Brunch for Lunch Day is celebrated on the day before Mother’s Day every year and we are excited to celebrate this day with you. This year it falls on May 10. We love brunch as much as you do as we get to unwind, relax and enjoy a tasty meal and some Bloody Marys with family or friends. Not familiar with Bloody Marys? Or are you wondering how brunch came to be? Let’s answer all these questions as we explore the history of brunch.
History of Brunch for Lunch Day
Brunch originated in England in the late 19th century and became popular in the United States in the 1930s. The word brunch is a ‘portmanteau’ of breakfast and lunch. Brunch is a type of meal that is usually eaten between 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 p.m. The meal occasionally is served with an alcoholic drink such as champagne or a cocktail.
The word brunch came to the spotlight in 1895, when it was used in print by Guy Beringer, a British writer. Beringer used the word Brunch in his article titled “Brunch: A Plea” which he wrote for “Hunter’s Weekly.”
According to Beringer, “Brunch is cheerful, sociable and inciting. It is talk-compelling. It puts you in a good temper, it makes you satisfied with yourself and your fellow beings, it sweeps away the worries and cobwebs of the week.”
There is some debate amongst food historians as to what the original form of brunch was when it came into existence. Some say the first brunches were full of meats that were hunted the same day; a kind of hunt breakfast served with fruits, eggs, and sweets. Other historians say that brunches were the meals of Catholics who enjoyed a late-morning meal after their early-morning fasting before going to church.
In America, the elite class adopted brunch as their Sunday routine. For them, it was a luxury affair. Brunch made its way to the United States to Chicago through transcontinental train journeys that were made by Hollywood celebrities. They ordered late morning meals that combined breakfast with lunch at hotels since restaurants were closed on Sundays.
In the 1930s the American middle class adopted brunch for their Sunday routines. Businesswomen, homemakers, and bachelors brought significant changes to the nature of brunch, making it cheap and easy to make. In 1939, “The New York Times” declared Sunday a two-meal day. By the 1960s more people accepted brunch and brunch cookbooks started getting published during the forties. Another reason why brunch became so popular amongst the middle class was that the two-in-one homemade meal was economical. Bacon, homemade jams, tea, juices, coffee, and doughnuts became quite popular to eat on a late morning with friends.
Now, brunch is a more popular meal than many. The history of brunch is the history of changing patterns in how Americans eat, interact, and go about their lives. Even in recent years, brunch remains more popular in some regions of the United States and among some groups of people than others.
Brunch for Lunch Day timeline
Brunch originates in England in the late 19th century and becomes popular in the United States.
The word brunch comes to the spotlight when it is used in an article titled “Brunch: A Plea” by Guy Beringer, a British writer.
“The New York Times” declares Sunday a two-meal day.
Brunch's popularity gives rise to specific cookbooks.
Brunch for Lunch Day FAQs
When is National brunch day in the U.S.?
National Brunch Day in the United States is on the March 13.
What is a Brunch meaning?
Brunch is a meal that is eaten late in the morning. It is a combination of breakfast and lunch.
When is National Breakfast Day?
National Breakfast Day is celebrated on September 26.
Brunch for Lunch Day Activities
Share your brunch with friends and family
Enjoy your Sunday morning or wrap up your weekend with friends and family with a brunch meal. Whether you visit your favorite restaurant or host brunch in your home, the meal is delicious and the company great.
Get into the kitchen and make brunch
If you're new to making brunch, you can keep it simple with savory bread and egg pudding. Waffles are another all-time brunch favorite that you can consider making. Serve it up alongside your favorite brunch cocktail.
Take on the classic Bloody Mary cocktail
You may also consider trying the classic ‘Bloody Mary’ cocktail with a make-your-own Bloody Mary bar. Guests can get creative with their garnishes and edible swizzle sticks like bacon, pickle spears, bleu cheese stuffed olives, and skewered deviled eggs.
5 Fun Facts About Brunch
Brunch was first used by Beringer
The word ‘brunch’ was first used in print in 1895 by British writer Guy Beringer.
In the U.S, brunch started in Chicago
Brunch got to America, in Chicago, through the transcontinental train journeys made by Hollywood celebrities and the wealthy elite who arrived seeking a sophisticated late-morning meal, and the local hotels.
Brunch was for an upscale crowd
Brunch in the 1920s was a meal for the upscale crowd, people who could get away with day-drinking with gusto.
Bloody Marys were a favorite
The Bloody Mary was the usual choice for a brunch drink because of its status as a hangover remedy and its similarity to the non-alcoholic tomato juice cocktails that were both widely served as appetizers in restaurants.
The day-drinking stigma diminished
It wasn't until the early 1950s that day-drinking's stigma diminished within the middle class, with post-World War II families including working women who were looking for a weekend respite from the workweek.
Why We Love Brunch for Lunch Day
Brunch is breakfast and lunch combined
When you wake up late for breakfast but it’s too early for lunch, brunch is the solution meal to have. Plus, there’s so much more room for choice when it comes to the food!
We celebrate the places we go for our meal
Brunch for Lunch Day provides the opportunity to celebrate the foods, beverages, and places we go to eat. We are treated with eggs, fresh-baked bread, waffles, fruit, salads, and much more.
We celebrate with friends and family
Though brunch doesn’t require a special occasion, we get to eat and relax with friends and family. We also get to celebrate all of April, National Brunch Month.
Brunch for Lunch Day dates
Year | Date | Day |
---|---|---|
2022 | May 7 | Saturday |
2023 | May 13 | Saturday |
2024 | May 11 | Saturday |
2025 | May 10 | Saturday |
2026 | May 9 | Saturday |