International Picnic Day – 18 June

International Picnic Day is celebrated annually on 18th June every year. Picnics are one of the greatest ways to celebrate the summer season. All you need is a few friends, some delicious food, a blanket, and a patch of grass.

Picnic strength communities through shared meals, and preserving nature and public spaces to be enjoyed by everyone. As a prelude to summer, picnic enthusiasts from around the world are rallying together on June 18 to celebrate International Picnic Day.

What is Picnic

People have been eating outdoors for as long as there have been people and food to eat, but the word “picnic” didn’t come into use until late in the 17th century, initially being written as pique-nique in its native French. The term is believed to have originally referred to the custom of dining with a group at a restaurant while bringing your own wine.

The act of eating a seated, elegant meal outside amongst company, however, dates back to the middle ages when the practice of hunting would regularly involve such respites. At some point, the shared element of “bringing your own food/drink” linked the word picnic with a meal set in nature.

June is definitely a special month, and probably the best month for the children and teenagers after December of course. Indeed, this is the month of the beginning of summer vacation, the month when starts the big break and the freedom.

The origins of International Picnic Day are unknown; however, that doesn’t dampen its popularity, with many countries across the globe celebrating this event, and although this is more of a fun event rather than your typical fundraising awareness day, it doesn’t make it any less worthwhile celebrating, as what better way to relax and get out and enjoy the summer weather than eating

Planning Your Picnic

Organizing a picnic can be a fun way to get to know new people better or to have a good time with people you already know. These are some tips to plan a good picnic:

Plan ahead, pick a good place to go to, confirm the number of people who will be attending. Make a list of food items or beverages, keeping in mind everyone’s preference.
Delegate tasks to the guests who will attend the picnic. This is a good way to make sure everyone feels like they played a part.
You can also do a potluck. This means that every person who is attending will bring along a dish that can be shared with the group. Potlucks help to add variety to a meal.
Plan interesting activities for the day. These may be games, singing songs, group sports, or running races and storytelling for kids.
Be prepared for any untoward circumstances. Pack basic first aid kits, umbrellas, and any other useful items.

Choosing food for a picnic

• Finger foods are fun!
• Colorful salads are refreshing and bright.
• Desserts don’t have to be guilty pleasures.

Go to a park at lunch with coworkers, have a supper picnic with your family in the backyard, or call some old friends and set up a park picnic together. It’s a quintessential summer activity and can create endless memories and sun-filled fun. Here’s hoping everyone celebrates International Picnic Day on June 18, so get out there and enjoy this magnificent time of year,

International Picnic Day Quotes

There are few things so pleasant as a picnic eaten in perfect comfort – W. Somerset Maugham
The only thing is quality of life; if you have a place where you can go and have a picnic with your family, it doesn’t matter if it’s a recession or not, you can include that in your quality of life – Jim Fowler
A picnic is more than eating a meal, it is a pleasurable state of mind – DeeDee Stovel
Unless you are at a picnic, life is no picnic. – Jane Wagner

Nothing’s Better Than a Picnic. – Zooey Deschanel
I’m not opposed to a fancy meal, but I’ll take a picnic any day… food and nature? Sign me up. – Ryan Paevey
I suppose I would still prefer to sit under a tree with a picnic basket rather than under a gas pump, but signs and comic strips are interesting as subject matter. – Roy Lichtenstein
Unless you are at a picnic, life is no picnic – Jane Wagner