‘Twas National Pickle Day, and all through the house

Not a gherkin was stirring, not even a kraut.

The bread and the butters were laid out with care

In hopes that Saint Pickle-us soon would be there…

It’s National Pickle Day, and that means Americans everywhere are giving thanks to the all-American staple that makes every hamburger (and Chik-fil-A sandwich) complete. You know them, you love them – and so did Christopher Columbus. In fact, he’s the reason why this dilled delicacy immigrated to North America in the first place, and the reason why the United States is the only country on the planet to have designated a national holiday in its honor. Go figure.

So where did the pickle come from? Believe it or not, the ancient Mesopotamians were already gnawing on brined veggies 4000 years ago, but it wasn’t until the Greeks came along that dill, the herb itself, became a part of the characteristic recipe. Julius Caesar fed pickles to his troops in the belief that it would make them tough (maybe early pickles were just that salty?), and even before that, Queen Cleopatra gave credit to the pickle for helping her maintain her stunning beauty. The word “pickle” is likely a descendent of the Dutch word “pekel”, which means “brine” – an understandably worthy namesake.

Whether you’re waiting up for Saint Pickle-us or simply enjoying a Mount Olive Kosher Dill, today is a day worth celebrating. After all, the birth of the pickle and the birth of human history are inextricably linked for good reason. Merry Pickle Day!