We recently spilled several pixels over the glut of food holidays vying for the month of May. You helped us sift through National Asparagus Month, National Gazpacho Month and National Chocolate Custard Month to determine that, from now on and for all time, May is National Barbecue Month.
But the calendar is still full of daily food holidays. Just this week, for example, National Quiche Lorraine Day is Monday, National Strawberries and Cream Day is Tuesday, and National Escargot Day is Friday. We're very excited about National Mint Julep Day on May 30, but still, this is a lot to take in.
Luckily there will be at least one fewer holiday starting in 2014: World Nutella Day, February 5, is dead.
See also: Scientific Poll Results Prove: May Is National Barbecue Month.
In 2007 Sara Rosso, an American blogger living in Italy, started World Nutella Day, a chance for fans of the chocolate-hazelnut spread to share their love and recipes. In the seven years since it started World Nutella Day has gained more legitimacy than, say, National Egg Month (May, again), with presence on Facebook, Twitter and CNN. Rosso had even heard positive feedback from employees at Ferrero, the company that produces Nutella.
So she was shocked in April to receive a cease-and-desist from the legal team at Ferrero, demanding she stop publishing anything using the word "Nutella." Rosso announced that she will be darkening World Nutella Day's blog and social media on May 25, which is also National Wine Day.
Now, we admit that too many food holidays is a bad thing, but this is one that we would do well to hang on to. Ferrero may have shown their dark side, but there's an easy fix for the rebel in all of us. February 5 may henceforth be known as "Chocolate-Hazelnut Spread Day," and those so inclined can celebrate with Nutella, and those not can use ... whatever knock-off brands exist?
Personally, we'll be making this flourless chocolate-hazelnut spread cake. And we'll probably still be celebrating National Wine Day.
Update, 4:50 p.m.: World Nutella Day lives! Bloomberg Businessweek reports that Ferrero won't take any action and they've apparently worked everything out with Rosso.
