🧄 April 19 – National Garlic Day: Let’s Get Stinky! 🧄

Apr 19

Because if you’re not warding off vampires and clearing rooms with your breath today… are you even celebrating properly?

Ah, garlic. The pungent powerhouse of the kitchen. The tiny, papery-cloaked clove that has ruined first dates and improved every dish it touches. National Garlic Day (April 19) is here to give this aromatic all-star the love it deserves—and we are here for it.

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🧄 Wait, Why Garlic? Who Started This Whole Smelly Situation?

While no one has claimed the garlic-soaked throne as the official founder (probably too busy sautéing something amazing), National Garlic Day has been observed for years as a way to honor garlic’s absolutely iconic role in cuisine, folklore, and natural medicine.

Garlic has been around for over 5,000 years, used by everyone from Egyptian pyramid builders to Roman soldiers to modern chefs and TikTok girlies with garlic confit recipes. It’s been praised as an aphrodisiac, a health tonic, a protective charm, and, most importantly, the flavor MVP of every dish it's in.

🧄 Fun(ky) Facts About Garlic

Garlic is part of the allium family, along with onions, leeks, and shallots—aka the family reunion that will make you cry and smell like soup.
China grows about 80% of the world’s garlic. That’s a lot of cloves.
Ancient Greek athletes used to eat garlic before competitions for strength. Pre-workout who?
Garlic can be used to make glue. Yes. Garlic glue. (We’re just going to leave that there.)
Vampires? Yeah, folklore says garlic repels them. Also effective against awkward small talk.

🧄 10+ Quirky Ways to Celebrate National Garlic Day

Host a Garlic-Forward Feast 🍽️
Think garlic bread, garlic mashed potatoes, garlic butter shrimp, roasted garlic heads—if it’s got garlic, it’s on the table.
Try Black Garlic 🖤
It’s fermented, sweet, and kind of like garlic’s cool older cousin who lives in Brooklyn and runs a wine bar.
DIY Garlic Confetti Oil 🫙
It’s basically a garlic love potion. Drizzle it on everything. Hoard it like treasure.
Plant Your Own Garlic 🌱
All you need is a clove and a little dirt. Bonus points if you name it something ridiculous (Sir Stinksalot?).
Make Vampire Repellent Kits 🧛‍♂️
Just for fun. Include garlic, mirrors, tiny wooden stakes, and maybe a glittery Edward Cullen sticker for flair.
Get a Garlic Tattoo 🖋️
OK, maybe a temporary one. But imagine the commitment.
Write a Garlic Haiku ✍️
“Sharp scent in the breeze / Kitchen air heavy with spice / Garlic owns my soul.”
Garlic-Themed Movie Night 🎬
Watch Dracula (obviously), Ratatouille, or Interview with the Vampire and bring snacks with extra garlic.
Create a ‘Stinkiest Breath’ Contest 😮‍💨
Garlic cloves, raw onions, maybe some blue cheese. Winner gets gum. And a solo ride home.
Craft a Garlic Bouquet 💐
Why not? String together some pretty bulbs and make your own vampire-free floral arrangement.
Bake Garlic Ice Cream 🍦
Yes, it exists. Yes, it’s weird. Yes, you’re doing it.