MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - The holiday season is up on us. Thanksgiving is next week; Christmas right around the corner.
But, did you know that many were already celebrating on Tuesday, November 13? They were celebrating because it was National Pickle Day.
In honor of the condiment worshipped by none other than Cleopatra, abc24.com went “searchin’ for gherkins.”
The legendary Cleopatra attributed her good looks to eating pickles. Napoleon believed pickles kept his armies healthier and offered cash prizes to anyone who could safely preserve them.
“I had no idea it was National Pickle Day,” said Tony Fowler, the co-manager of the Collierville Kroger store on Houston Levee.
“I had no idea,” said Lauren Carlson of the Young Avenue Deli.
When asked if National Pickle Day was a needed holiday, Carlson replied: “No, not at all.”
Needed or not, it was a day to celebrate a condiment that has been around since 2000 B.C.
“If you like pickles, enjoy them,” registered nutritionist Heather Johnson told abc24.com, “there are some good things about them. They do contain a little bit of vitamins and minerals.”
But kids, just because pickles are green, don’t try to con your mom.
“They do not count as vegetables,” Johnson said.
So on that most revered day for pickles, did sales skyrocket?
“Sales picked up for the holiday,” said Fowler, “but I don’t know about National Pickle Day.”
But things were definitely looking up for pickles.
Fowler noted, “Pickles and olives are part of the traditional Thanksgiving and Christmas. It’s a condiment everybody uses; everybody likes pickles.”
With so many different kinds of pickles on the market, how do you choose?
Well, at least when it comes to nutritional value, Johnson said: “A pickle is a pickle.”
For those who missed National Pickle Day, there was a chance to catch up on all the fun. Wednesday, November 14 was National Spicy Guacamole Day.
And no, we're not making that up.
