National Chili Day on the fourth Thursday in February honors one of America’s favorite winter dishes–chili. It’s also known as chili con carne (chili with meat).
Chili is most commonly made up of tomatoes, beans, chili peppers, meat, garlic, onions, and cumin. However, cooks offer up so many variations to the basic chili recipe. And, with so many varieties, chili cook-off competitions love to feature chili as a favored entry.
American frontier settlers used a “chili” recipe of dried beef, suet, dried chili peppers and salt. All this was pounded together and formed into bricks and dried. They could then boil the bricks in pots on the trails.
At the Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893, the San Antonio Chili Stand helped people from all over the United States appreciate the taste of chili. Because San Antonio was a significant tourist destination, it helped Texas-style chili con carne spread throughout the South and West. In 1977, House Concurrent Resolution Number 18 of the 65th Texas Legislature designated chili con carne as the official dish of the U.S. state of Texas.
Before World War II, hundreds of small, family-run chili parlors (also known as chili joints) popped up throughout the state of Texas as well as other places in the United States. Each new chili parlor usually claimed some kind of secret recipe.
There are many ways that people enjoy the great taste of chili, some of which include:
Add chili to hot dogs to create chili dogs.
Top burgers with chili and enjoy a chili burgers.
Combine chili and cheese with fries and make chili cheese fries.
Make the ultimate baked potato by stuffing it with chili.
“Frito pie” is chili with spaghetti noodles.
Transform mac and cheese into chili mac.
Mix rice and chili for another flavor favorite.
Change it up. Black beans instead of red, green chilis, and sour cream.
My favorite is topped with fresh green onions and sharp cheddar cheese.
NATIONAL CHILI DAY HISTORY
Rich Kelly of Hard Times Cafe in Arlington, VA founded National Chili Day. The day has been celebrated with cook-offs, pot lucks, feeds and bottomless bowls since at least 2006.
Make your October Overflowing with, joy, love, laughter and all things fun and spooky. In the Northern Hemisphere, October ushers in fall like no other month. Its capital O shouts pumpkins and if the leaves haven’t turned, they soon will. Keep reading to learn more about October.
October Holidays and History
Well, before the Julian and Gregorian calendars, October was the 8th month of the Roman calendar. Octo means eight in Latin. At the time, there were only 10 months. In 700 BC, Numa Pompilius added January and February to the calendar. This change more accurately reflected the length of a year on Earth. As a result, October became the 10th month on the calendar. While other months on the calendar have had days added and subtracted, October has always had 31 days.
Weather & Seasons
During the second month of autumn, asters bloom and so do chrysanthemums. Their colors often pair well with the pumpkins and gourds collected from gardens. And speaking of pumpkins and gourds, holidays like National Pumpkin Seed Day, National Farmer’s Day, National Pumpkin Cheesecake Day, and National Pumpkin Day all offer ways to set the mood.
The Hunter’s Moon is aptly named considering many seek game in the fields and forests. Two meteor showers appear in October. They are the Draconids and the Orionids.
The month is full of sporting events, too. From the World Series to Rugby World Cup finals, sports fans fill the seats. In other activities, October brings a shift in hunting and fishing seasons. Did we mention that National Sports Day is a holiday in October?
In October, Libra (scales) and Scorpio (the scorpion) represent those born in September.
Marigolds and Cosmos both represent October babies. Marigolds bloom all summer and fall long, but in the fall is where they shine, accenting the harvest season. They symbolize positive emotion and energy. Cosmos delicate blooms represent order and harmony.
October is the month when the five-day workweek was first sanctioned. The U.S. Naval Academy opened its doors in Annapolis, Maryland in 1845 (and Navy Day is the holiday that celebrates it!) The World Series of baseball begins in October. Several U.S. presidents were born in October, too.
Fall (including October) is a good time to be born if you want to live a long life. More centenarians are born in the fall months. Hugh Jackman, Luciano Pavarotti, Sigourney Weaver, Julie Andrews, John Keats and this Author all were born in October.
Six US presidents were born in October, more than any other month.
