National Picnic Month – July 2024

History of National Picnic Month

Outdoor dining in one version or another has been around for ages. People have used picnics for everything from family gatherings, to celebrations, to being a form of peaceful protest. The earliest known record of picnics by people is the outdoor meals served to medieval royal hunters. These early picnics were large fancy meals, and this trend continued through the Victorian Era, before eventually becoming a light repast with whatever a person could carry. The 19th century cemented the picnic as a light meal in cultures everywhere. We can attribute the modern version of picnics to the French. The revolutionaries opened up royal parks to the public after the French Revolution, and picnicking became a popular activity for the newly freed citizens. Even the word ‘picnic’ is likely of French origin, or at least that is what some people believe — it might come from the French verb ‘piquer,’ which means to ‘pick’ or ‘peck’, and ‘nique,’ meaning ‘thing of little importance.’

In literature, one of the very first references to picnics was in the tale of Robin Hood. This heroic outlaw and his band of Merry Men would frequently dine on bread, cheese, and beer under the shelter of the trees.

The charm of eating meals outdoors grew in leaps and bounds in proportion to the growth in busier lifestyles. People needed a dedicated reason to relax, so much so that a Picnic Society was even formed in London. Members met at the Pantheon — a popular public entertainment space in Oxford Street — and they would share entertainment and refreshments. Now, cultures over the world have added their own spin to picnics and made this tradition their own.

As for Americans, they pull out picnics on every major holiday — Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day — with special additions like races and eating contests included.

Another tradition followed today by multiple cultures is picnicking next to headstones, when people enjoy recreational activities in the cemetery as a way to celebrate their dead loved ones. England followed this tradition in the Victorian Era, Mexico celebrates the Día de los Muertos lunch among family gravesites, and the Chinese have their Chung Yeung Festival to honor their ancestors. Less common in the U.S., some morticians and preservationists support this tradition, believing it to be a good way to enjoy life at all stages and honor our loved ones.

The non-profit organization American Bakers’ Association, founded National Picnic Month.