Joyful scenes at outdoor gathering, reminiscent of leisurely summer gatherings
Outdoor Feasts: Embracing the Picnic Culture Across the Globe
As spring unfurls and winter takes its leaves, the long-awaited picnic season has finally dawned. But what's a picnic, really? More than just an al fresco meal, it's a chance to break free from day-to-day routines, reconnect with nature, and feed our senses with an indescribable joy. Let's dive into picnics around the world, their remarkable histories, and enduring cultural significance.
From France to Germany, and Beyond
The word 'picnic' may seem quintessentially English, but it owes its roots to the French and Germans. The French 'pique-nique' is a delightful fusion of 'piquer,' meaning to snack little by little, and 'nique,' tiny things. Over time, it transitioned into German as "Picnic" and trickled into other languages. In England, the picnic gained prominence in the early 1800s, with Mrs. Beeton even dedicating a section in her celebrated cookbook to picnic fare. Notably, the picnic became synonymous with boiled eggs, cold fried chicken, and sandwiches of all sorts. says, "Whether the flavor of the food was worthy of such care is debatable." I, on the other hand, adore a well-prepared BLT or Ploughman's sandwich drizzled with Branston chutney!
Turkish Love for the Outdoors
In Turkey, picnics have deep roots that predate the term's coinsage. Our nomadic past draws us to every opportunity to revel in the great outdoors. Communal dining is deeply ingrained in our DNA, and no indoor setting can truly compare to the grand conviviality found outdoors. During the Ottoman era, grand feasts were a common way for Sultans to showcase their power, while the people indulged in the abundance of food and demonstrated their loyalty. Today, picnics remain a cherished summer tradition across Anatolia, with open-fire cooking being the pièce de résistance. Turks have no bounds when it comes to grilling, making a "mangal" spark in even the most reserved Turkish male.
Humble but Delicious
Picnics in my childhood were time-honored memories filled with simple pleasures and belly-warming delights. Cold, hand-held meals lay at the heart of these outings. Although we abstained from "mangal" feasts, we still reveled in boiled potatoes, eggs, vegan no-meat lentil meatballs, and zeytinyağlı yaprak dolma – a sumptuous rice-stuffed, olive-oil-based, vine-leaf dish. Sigara böreği, white-cheese-and-herb-stuffed pastries, were always a favorite, even as their fried crispiness wilted. And who could forget the classic kuru köfte, chilled, finger-shaped, fried meatballs? Our picnic sites were always chosen with utmost care – a shady tree providing the perfect spot under which we would feast, nap, and play.
A Global Celebration of Community and Nature
From the Hanami picnics of Japan, where revelers gather to admire the fleeting beauty of cherry blossoms, to the community events of the United States, picnics have become a universal means of celebrating community spirit, cultural diversity, and the wonders of nature. Venerable events like the Pan-European Picnic, which took place near the Hungarian border in 1989, stand as historic symbols of unity and freedom, demonstrating the power of peaceful gatherings to defy political norms and foster international harmony. So, as we embark on this year's picnic adventures, let us remember that we are part of a global tradition that transcends borders, cultures, and time.
Sources:
- Hobs oversees the just-picking-and-eating thing. (n.d.). The Boring Beacon. Retrieved from https://theboringbeacon.com/2018/07/03/picnicking-has-history-and-a-mode-of-operation/
- American-Armenian Picnic raises record-breaking $100,000 for Armenian relief. (2021, January 28). Asbarez. Retrieved from https://asbarez.com/186677/american-armenian-picnic-raises-record-breaking-100000-for-armenian-relief/
- A Few Favorite Hanami Picnic Spots in Tokyo. (2020, April 24). Spoon & Tamago. Retrieved from https://spoon-tamago.com/2020/04/24/hanami-picnic-spots-in-tokyo/
- The Pan-European Picnic of 1989. (n.d.). History.com. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/news/europe-1989-berlin-wall-iconic-picnic
- Happy Hanami! Cherry Blossom Picnics in Japan. (2021, April 19). Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/happy-hanami-cherry-blossom-picnics-in-japan-11960889/
In the midst of picnic revelry around the globe, let's explore how food-and-drink preferences enrich this outdoor celebration. For instance, during Turkish picnics, home-and-garden staples such as open-fire cooking and vine-leaf dishes are cherished, while the British picnic offers classic sandwiches and boiled eggs. These edible delights serve not only as sustenance but also as symbols of the countries' lifestyle and cultural heritage.
