What's For Dinner? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is always the fourth Thursday in November.
It started when the Pilgrims landed in America and they celebrated making it safely to land. They feasted on what was native to America and close at hand. Pilgrims would have eaten fish and shellfish, goose, duck, and turkey but turkey has become so popular in the U.S. that some refer to the day as 'turkey day'. Deep fried turkey has become popular in the last decade. Now if we could only keep folks from burning down their back porch with hot grease...

Answer: Memorial Day

Memorial Day is always the last Monday in May.
It's a special day for people to remember those who fought for our freedom. Some people visit cemeteries to visit relatives and loved ones who have died. For many years, the schools closed for the summer on the Friday before Memorial Day, so people associate this holiday with the beginning of summertime. Since the weather is generally better in the summer, cooking outdoors just makes sense and foods like beef and pork ribs, chicken and other meats drenched in BBQ sauce just set off the beginning of warm weather.

Answer: Your Birthday

Have you forgotten already? It's your birthday. People normally celebrate on the date they were born, except for those poor folks born on February 29th, which only rolls around every four years, and those of us born too close to a holiday so that our birthday doesn't always feel so special. Because it's your birthday, you get to have your favorite food. I like your birthday because I don't have to cook; your favorite food comes from a drive through restaurant.

But I always make sure to bake your favorite cake, stack it up really high, hold it all together with thick, rich icing and light it up with the same number of candles as the years you are old.

A little ice cream on the side and it's a day to remember.

Answer: Independence Day

Independence Day is always on July 4th.
On that day in 1776 the people living in the U.S. declared independence from Great Britain. We like to celebrate by having family reunions, going to or participating in parades, eating picnic foods and watching fireworks after the sun goes down. It's a great day to be an American and we see lots of red, white and blue, flag waving. Nothing is more American than apple pie!

Answer: St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's Day is always on March 17 which is the anniversary of his death.
Although it is a religious holiday in some parts of the world, it has become a popular celebration day in other parts. Finding and carrying shamrocks, wearing the color green, claiming to be Irish and watching or marching in parades is all part of the fun. If you live in or near Chicago, go downtown on St. Patty's day to see the green river.

Answer: Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day is always on February 14th because a Roman saint named Valentine was buried on that day many hundreds of years ago.
The are no traditional foods associated with this holiday. People usually just try to share favorite foods and foods that are known to make others happy.
Celebrating by being more loving, giving cards expressing love or admiration, red hearts, and cupid figures has all evolved throughout the ages. It would be wonderful if everyone was kind and loving every day but it's nice to have a special day set aside just to say 'I love you'.

Answer: New Year's Day

New Year's Day is always on the first day of each year.
Tradition or superstition says you should eat foods that bring good luck on New Year's Day. The U.S. is made up of people who came from (or families that came from) all over the world and each place and people think different foods bring good luck. We're very lucky to have such a selection to choose from.

Answer: Easter

Easter isn't on a particular day or date but is usually celebrated in March or April (the people who make calendars know how to figure out the exact date but it's complicated). Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday. Some people eat lamb because, in olden days, a lamb was sacrificed in a religious ceremony and then would be eaten after. Most people in the U.S. eat ham on Easter because of tradition. Before there were refrigerators, pigs were butchered in the fall and the meat was cured (preserved).

This took some time and the meat was ready just about Easter time. Of course, there are plenty of hard boiled eggs to use and eat because of coloring and hiding them for the Easter egg hunt.

Answer: Halloween

Halloween or All Hallows Eve, as some call it, is always celebrated on the last day of October (31st). There really is not a traditional Halloween meal like many other holidays. That could be because kids refuse to eat much 'real' food, they want to save room for all the goodies they collect while walking around the neighborhood, knocking on doors and saying 'trick or treat'.

Some foods commonly associated with Halloween are: pumpkins, apples, candy of all sorts especially candy corn, caramel and salted popcorn, and if you're real lucky, like I was, you have a neighbor that gives out hotdogs in buns or sliders (tiny little hamburgers).

Answer: Christmas Day

Christmas Day is always on December 25th, the day of Jesus' birth (which is not actually known) but the spirit of Christmas starts way before then and lasts long after for some people. Families usually try to have favorite foods for everyone that will be eating.

Some feel that since Thanksgiving is so close to Christmas and they've been eating every type of turkey leftover for weeks, they want to serve something other than poultry. Beef roasts and briskets are a nice alternative. Many of the desserts popular at Thanksgiving are also popular at Christmas but no one seems to mind that. Hum!?!