- Categories:
- Special Interest
- Tags:
- BooksEducationalSweet Food
- Where:
- International
- Date change rule:
- Every April 1
- Holiday emoji:
- đź“š
Edible Book Day celebrates the delightful fusion of literature and culinary art every April 1. This international event encourages participants to craft edible books, showcasing both their love for stories and their baking prowess. Gather your ingredients and favorite titles to create a delicious masterpiece, share your creations online, and enjoy a truly unique literary feast.
Want to sponsor Edible Book Day? Learn how
History of Edible Book Day
Edible Book Day originated on April 1, 1755. Anthelme Brillat-Savarin was born in France into a lawyer family. Similar to his father, he chose to follow the same career path. However, his passion was more for the culinary arts. Even though he used a veil of politics and law, deep down, he was a gourmet.
In 1825, he published his book, “The Physiology of Taste.” The book became the bible of gastronomes. It contains a huge collection of details on how to improve the overall table experience. Anthelme shares with us his vast knowledge through various anecdotes, random conversations, funny narration, and deep insights.
There are occasional mentions of new recipes and treaties on the culinary arts. Fast-forward a few decades to 2000. Judith Holmberg, the cofounder of Forbes Library in North Hampton, came up with the idea of edible books during Thanksgiving dinner with book artists. The idea soon became an international event.
People from countries like Canada, Australia, Brazil, England, India, Germany, Italy, Japan, and more regularly participate in edible book events. The idea brings together bookworms, food lovers, and artists under a single roof for an event.
The event organizers also distribute prices for titles like best overall entry, best pun, best book theme, best children’s book, best adult book. The celebration mainly centers on creating edible books or themes from books.
Edible Book Day timeline
Wang Jie prints the “Diamond Sutra,” a Buddhist text considered the world's first printed book.
“The Bay Psalm” is the first printed American book published in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Johannes Gutenberg, a German, creates a printing press to produce the “Gutenberg Bible.”
Brillat-Savarin is the author of “Physiologie du gout” — a book representing literature and food.
People use food as raw material for artistic creations.
Judith A. Hoffberg and BĂ©atrice Coron start Edible Book Day on April 1.
Edible Book Day FAQs
When is Edible Book Day?
In 2027, Edible Book Day is observed on Thursday, April 1, providing another chance to celebrate the playful intersection of books and food. Get ready to bake and sculpt your favorite stories.
How many books are published annually?
The publishing industry continues to be highly prolific, with estimates suggesting over a million new books are published worldwide each year. This vast literary output ensures a constant stream of fresh material for Edible Book Day artists.
What makes a book 'edible'?
To qualify as an edible book, the artwork must not only resemble a book or reference literature, but also be composed entirely of edible materials. The key is that the entire piece, from cover to “pages,” can be eaten.
Is Edible Book Day celebrated internationally?
The International Edible Book Festival, as it’s also known, has participants from dozens of countries, from Australia to the United States. Its global reach highlights the universal appeal of both literature and delicious food.
Edible Book Day Activities
Attend an edible book day event
These events are conducted yearly, and people can register online for access. If you cannot find any events, you can organize one independently.
Create an edible book and share your experience
Select your favorite book, pick a theme and create an edible book. Record your whole process in videos and photos, and upload them to social media.
Not an artist? Then read
Not everyone is a born food artist, and not everyone can create splendid shapes with food. This does not mean you can not participate in the event. If you cannot make anything with food, join the reading corner and make the most of the day while reading a wonderful book.
5 Interesting Facts About “Physiologie Du Gout”
The book that was the inspiration
The full name of the book that inspired Edible Book Day is “Physiologie du goût; ou, méditations de gastronomie transcendante: ouvrage théorique, historique et à l’ordre du jour, 2 vol.”
A quote for gourmets
Jean Anthelme said: “The discovery of a new dish confers more happiness on humanity than the discovery of a new star.”
“You are what you eat”
We are sure everyone knows this quote. It is also from “Physiologie du gout.”
The English translation
M.F.K. Fisher translated the book into English, adding footnotes and editor’s comments on each page.
First gastronome
Anthelme is widely considered the first gastronome in history.
Why We Love Edible Book Day
It encourages us to read books
Reading increases knowledge and depth of language, reduces stress, improves focus, memory, and empathy. Reading opens the door to another world where we can learn about new and intriguing subjects.
It links food with books
The idea of using food as art is not new. Around the 1960s, artists started using food to create art. The events force artists to dive deep into the contents of books to better understand the theme they are creating. An edible book developed from scratch can help popularise the book's theme or shed light on important topics.
It promotes social connections
Edible book day brings a lot of people together. Book lovers, food lovers, and food artists all come together for Edible Book Day. Even the idea of Edible Book Day originated when a reader spent some time with food artists for Thanksgiving.
