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Worldcook's January culinary calendar Seasonal recipes
January

Many dishes are prepared or served for a special occasion or historic event. Especially children enjoy these special meals or snacks. It is also a good occasion to talk about cultural and historical aspects of life in general and food in particular, whilst enjoying the delicious dishes.

1
January

New Year
recipes

In Belgium, waffles are served on New Year's Day. Many countries serve lentils, because they look like the coins they hope for, like in Brazil and Chile; or green leafy vegetables looking like bank notes.

12
January

Tanzania
recipes

Zanzibar Revolution Day is celebrated, as in 1964, African revolutionaries freed Zanzibar from the hands of the Oman Sultan. A year later, together with Tanganyika it formed Tanzania.

23
January

Jan hagel
Recipes from
Utrecht
On the 23rd of January 1579, the Union of Utrecht was formed between the provinces Utrecht, Holland and Zeeland. This was the first step towards the Netherlands' independence from Spain.
2
January

Spanish recipes

"Toma de Granada". The Granada war ended on January 2, 1492 after 10 years of war, when King Mohammad XII of Granada lost from Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon. Later both became Kingdom of Spain.

13
January


Recipes from
Togo
Togo a protectorate of Germany until 1918, when it was taken over by France. On 27 April 1960 it became independent. On 13 January 1967 there was a military coup which is still celebrated at Liberation Day. 24
January

Recipes from
Kalimantan
Balikpapan is a harbour city in Kalimantan. On 24 January the Japanese fought the USA at Balikpapan, to prevent the Dutch from destroying oil fields like they had done at Tarakan 2 weeks before.
3
January


Recipes from
New York

On 3 January 1870, the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York was started. It took 13 years to finish this world famous connection between Manhattan and Brooklyn, one of the oldest hanging bridges.

14
January

Recipes from
Sri Lanka

Thai Pongal is a harvest festival in Sri Lanka. "Pongal" in Tamil means "boil over" referring t the abundance of food in the household. The Tamils thank the Sun God Surya for the good harvest.

24
January

Recipes
from Peru

On the 24th of  January, Peruvians (among others) celebrate the Feria de la Alasita. Fairs are held where you can buy miniatures of your wishes to have them fulfilled. This is based on an old South American custom.

4
January

Myanmar
recipes

In Myanmar (also called Burma), on this day independence day is celebrated. The national dish is mohinga, rice noodles and fish soup.

15
January

Ethiopian
recipes

In the Ethiopian Tewahedo Church, the name day of St Abeluzius is celebrated. European missionaries imported the faith and its saints, but this saint is unknown in Europe.

25
January

Scottish
recipes

The birthday of the famous poet Robert Burns (1759) is celebrated by the Scottish. Many people sing his composition "Auld Lang Syne" on New Year's Eve.

5
January


Recipes from
Burgundy
On 5 January 1477, Charles the Bold is killed in the Battle of Nancy; it is only then that Burgundy becomes a part of France. 16
January

Thai recipes

Today is Teacher's Day in Thailand. It is celebrated in many countries based upon the UNESCO resolution for teachers, but on many different dates. There is also a World Teacher's Day.

25
January


Egyptian
recipes

On 25 January 2011, there was a revolution in Egypt, which started with demonstrations on Tahrir Square in Cairo and has led among others to the deposing of President Mubarak.
6
January


Twelfth night
cake

On Twelfth Night  the kings Melchior, Caspar en Balthazar arrive at the crib, to present their goods to the newborn baby. You can prepare Twelfth night cake or Twelfth night bread.

17
January

American
recipes

Martin Luther King was born on the 15th of January 1929 and Martin Luther King Day is celebrated in the USA around that day, on the 3rd Monday of January. May his dream come true.

26
January


Australian
recipes

Australia Day is the day the First Fleet arrived at Port Jackson in Sidney Cove in 1788, transporting the convicts from the UK. Anzac biscuits are Australia's national cookies.

7
January

Georgian
recipes

In a number of countries, for instance members of the former Soviet Federation like Georgia, orthodox Christians celebrate Christmas on the 7th of January.

18
January
Honey cake
Honey cake

"Winnie the Pooh Day" is celebrated, as this was the birthday of his creator A. A. Milne in 1882. The cuddly bear is fond of honey so he is sure to like this cake.

27
January

Chelsea buns

On 27 January 1832, Lewis Carroll was born, the British creator of Alice in Wonderland. During the Mad Tea Party, this bun would definitely have called "Eat me" to seduce Alice and her friends.

8
January

Mississippi mud
cake

Elvis Presley was born on the 8th of January 1934 in Tupelo in the state of Mississippi. Therefore, we bake a Mississippi mud cake today.

19
January


Recipe from
Boston
19 January 1809, Edgar Allen Poe was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in the USA. After a short military career he became a famous writer and poet. 28
January

Sesame rolls

28 January is the birthday of Ernie, famous from "Sesame Street" and well known for his involvement in rubber duckies and playing the saxophone, and of course his soul mate Bert.

9
January

Crab burger
On Martyr's day Panama remembers 1964, when fights took place about the sovereignty of the Panama Canal Zone and students were killed. 20
January

Recipes
from Brazil

On the 20th of January 1502, Rio the Janeiro is discovered by outsiders. The name (meaning January River) refers to that event. The influx of foreigners has not stopped since.

29
January
20 May 2008
Recipes from
Singapore
Sir Stamford Raffles , also called "Father of Singapore" landed on the south tip of the Malay peninsula on the 29th January 1819, where he founded Singapore.
10
January

Sausage rolls

Lost Monday is a Belgian tradition from Antwerp. Harbor laborers would  drink on the Sunday after Twelfth Night, and had to beg for food on Monday, then receiving sausage rolls and apple dumplings.

20
January

Recipes from
Cape Verde
Cape Verde, the island of wavesailing, celebrates Heroes Day on 20 January; on this date in 1973 Amílcar Cabral, the initiator of the independence movement, was assassinated. 30
January
Stilton soup
British recipes

Some time ago, life was much harder for Kings and Queens. King Charles I of England was beheaded on the 30th of January 1649, initiated by Parliament, for religious reasons.

11
January

Japanese
recipes

Today Japan holds the traditional ceremony Kagami Biraki, which means "Open the mirror". This is a New Year Festival and the rice is husked for rice cakes. A cask of sake will be open to guide the rice cakes.

21
January

Recipe from
Albania
On 21 January 1925, Albania declared itself a Republic. This lasted until 1928, until which it became a monarchy again until 1939, just like it had been between 1914 and 1925. 31
January

Zeeuwse bolus
Recipes from
Zeeland
On the 31st of January 1953 there was an enormous storm which led to the North Sea flood, which killed over 1800 people in the province Zeeland, the Netherlands.
      22
January

Blondies

22 January is "National Blonde Brownie Day", when Americans cherish the existence of Blonde Brownies, or Blondies, the white version of Brownies.