National Roast Suckling Pig Day 2023: You don’t have to wait until Christmas to indulge in a sumptuous feast because of National Roast Suckling Pig Day, which falls on December 18. Because of their higher collagen content, the meat of sucking pigs is more tender, juicy, and gelatinous than that of adult pigs, making them a delicacy.
This is because, as the name “suckling” suggests, they are still dependent on their mother’s milk and are between the ages of two and six weeks. It makes for an incredibly delicious meal that can feed twenty adults if you can bring yourself to roast a whole baby pig, nose to tail, in your oven or on your grill. So gather your family and extended family and get roasting (ideally five hours before you plan to dish it up).
The National Roast Suckling Pig Day History
Although the origins of National Roast Suckling Pig Day are unknown, it makes sense that this delicacy would have a day set aside for it. Most likely, we’ve all seen cartoons and children’s books with illustrations of a pig eating an apple while seated in the middle of a table among medieval revelers. Together, pigs and people have gone a long way in the past. They were among the first creatures that people domesticated.
It is well known that the main course of feasts and banquets in many different cuisines has been sucking pigs, which are also a traditional dish in China, Spain, the United States, and the Philippines. The Salian Law states that “if someone has stolen a suckling pig and this is proven against him, the guilty party will be sentenced to 120 denarii which adds up to three solidi [Latin coins].” This is one of the earliest references to the suckling pig found in ancient texts dating back to the sixth century. It’s obvious that back then, people valued their piggy property highly.
However, roasting a suckling pig, or cochinillo asado, is a tradition that is widely acknowledged to have originated in Spain. Castile, and especially the city of Segovia, is the most famous Spanish region for this dish. When the proprietor of a Segovian tavern started slicing the roast suckling pig with a plate to highlight the meat’s tenderness and add some flair to the dish’s presentation to patrons, the dish’s popularity skyrocketed in the 1930s.
The delicacy is so important to Spain that many great writers have made references to it. In his book “Don Quixote,” Miguel de Cervantes describes how Don Quixote and his squire Sancho Panza stumble upon a wedding in the Castilian countryside and discover several suckling pigs roasting over a fire.
How to celebrate it
Naturally, roast a suckling pig yourself!
This isn’t your average hastily prepared dinner after work. A well-cooked piglet that is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside will require about 1.5 hours of roasting. If, on the other hand, you adhere to the classic Spanish recipe, the preparation is quite simple: just add a sprinkling of thyme, garlic, and plenty of salt. Enjoy it with a nice bottle of red wine, and cheers!
Eat at a restaurant that conventionally serves food.
Enjoy the entire meal at a restaurant; that might even be better if you lack the time or energy to prepare it yourself. You may enjoy real roast suckling pigs in your hometown, even though it’s a specialty of many Chinese and Spanish eateries.
Prepare a feast.
A large meal like that needs to be shared, so in addition to roasting the suckling pig yourself, you could make a big deal out of it and invite all of your friends and family over. Have a dress-up party with a Spanish or medieval theme. Arrange a lengthy table adorned with silver glasses and cutlery, and don’t overlook the finishing touch: a roasted porker with an apple in its mouth as the centerpiece dish.
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5 Awe-Inspiring Facts About National Roast Suckling Pig Day
It is served at the world’s oldest restaurant.
The oldest restaurant in the world, according to Guinness World Records, is Casa Botin, which is said to have the best cochinillo asado.
It won’t cause your cholesterol to rise.
Suckling pig meat doesn’t raise your cholesterol because it has 40% less fat than adult pig meat.
It is an indication of wealth.
A whole roast pig is typically served at weddings and other special occasions in China because it is seen as a symbol of wealth and prosperity.
Hemingway was a sincere admirer.
Ernest Hemingway, a well-known American novelist, was a frequent guest of Casa Botin. He enjoyed roast suckling pig so much that he would often eat it at a table in a corner next to the kitchen.
The custom of cutting plates has grown increasingly impressive.
These days, when you order a roast suckling pig at some traditional Spanish restaurants, the chef not only cuts it with the edge of the plate but also holds it up ceremoniously and smashes it dramatically on the floor.
The reasons we adore National Roasting Suckling Pig Day
It’s a customary dish that many different cultures share.
Not just the United States, China, and Spain have incorporated roast suckling pig into their cuisines. It’s also very popular in other places, such as the Philippines, Cuba, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. Therefore, even though it is almost universal, each culture has its own unique ways of preparing it.
In addition to being delicious, it is also healthier.
The higher collagen levels in the meat are beneficial for your skin, and because it is more gelatinous, it can help strengthen your bones. In addition, their fat percentage is 40% lower than that of adult pigs!
A family can be fed with it for several days!
Is there anything better than a meal that is served in large quantities and still permits seconds? Additionally, if your family consists of just four people, there will almost certainly be leftovers that you can eat for a week.
NATIONAL ROAST SUCKLING PIG DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | December 18 | Monday |
| 2024 | December 18 | Wednesday |
| 2025 | December 18 | Thursday |
| 2026 | December 18 | Friday |
| 2027 | December 18 | Saturday |
