Many dishes are prepared or served for a special occasion or historic event. Especially children enjoy these special meals or snacks. It is also a good occasion to talk about cultural and historical aspects of life in general and food in particular, whilst enjoying the delicious dishes.

Today is Vappu in Finland, also called St. Walpurgis. It is a very old holiday and people used to light bonfires to keep the evil spirits at bay. And around the fire, you would of course eat, drink and be merry.

These are name days of St Pancratius, Servatius, Bonifatius and Mamertus celebrated in this period,  notorious in the northern part of the world for its occurrence of frost at night, spoiling the young blossoms.

22 May is Unity day in Yemen, because North- and South-Yemen united in 1990. There was a civil war in 1994 and the people from the south had an uprising in 1997, but the country remained united.

Today we celebrate the birthday of Anna, the youngest of the World kids. What better to cook for her than Anna potatoes, the dish that was created for Anna Deslions?

On 23 May 1934, the famous American robbers Bonnie and Clyde are killed by the police. Their story looks so romantic, but they killed quite some policemen and civilians themselves, when they stood in the way.

3 May 1808, the Spanish struggled with Portugal and the UK to resist Napoleon’s French army.  Francisco Goya painted the event in “Los fusilamientos del tres de mayo”.

On the 13th of May 1619 Johan van Oldebarneveldt, a famous politician from The Netherlands, was executed in The Hague. The conviction was done by his personal enemies and thus a political issue.

Victoria Day (Fete de la Reine) is celebrated in Canada for Queen Victoria's birthday  and for the current monarch but also to mark the end of winter season. Some name it optimistically the beginning of summer.

Midori no hi in Japanese means "Day of the Green Leaf". This used to be the birthday of Hirohito, but when he stopped reigning the country, the day was dedicated to nature and children plant trees on this day.

Malawi celebrates Hastings Banda’s official birthday (14 May 1906), his real birthday is unknown. He was involved in the independence of British  Nyasaland, and named it “Malawi”.

15 May is Dia del Maestro or Teachers' Day in Mexico. Being a mother of 3 adolescents and a future adolescent, I highly respect teachers and don't envy them, so today we send them a special dish.

The May Revolution took place from 1-25 May 1810 in Argentina. It is called "May Week" and seen as the start of the war of independence in which Argentina struggled free of Spain.

The 5th of May is celebrated in the Netherlands as Liberation Day. Actually, it is only the Northern part that was liberated on that day. Probably, even though after freedom, food was scarce.

Guernica, a town in Biscay in Basque Country, was bombarded on 26 May 1937. The bombardment became world famous by the painting of Picasso. The town has become part of the Symbol of Peace movement.

On the 6th of May we celebrate Anti-Diet Day. Worldcook's favorite, not because her website is full of recipes full of calories, but also since a healthy weight is not achieved by adhering to these popular diets.

On 16 May 1975, a referendum is held in Sikkim, a state in the North of India, where the majority of the population appears in favor of joining India. Thereupon, India incorporates Sikkim as part of the country.

On 27 May 1773 the British Government passes the Tea Act, securing the monopoly of the British East India Company and allowing to sell excess tea at lower prices. Tea is still a very popular drink especially accompanied by shortbread.

"Syttende mai" (17 May) is Constitution Day in Norway (1814), but as Sweden was reigning the country then, it was not always allowed. Nowadays it is celebrate with children's parade.

The Trans-Caucasian Union existed until 26 May 1918, when Georgia declared independence. Armenia did the same (just like Azerbaijan), so in these countries 28 May is Republic Day.

On 7 May 1895, Alexander Popov invented the radio and in 1945 the 7th of May has become "Communication Workers' Day" or simply "Radio Day" in Russia.

Nigeria had been under military rule for 16 years, when on 29 May 1990 Obasanja became elected civilian president of the country. This is celebrated on Democracy Day.

The 8th of May is "International Red Cross and Red Crescent Day". The Red Cross was established in Geneva, Switzerland by Henry Dunant in 1863 and exists now in almost all countries.

Ho Chi Minh was born on 19 May 1890 and the Vietnamese still celebrate his birthday nationally. This famous Marxist revolutionary leader led the Republic of Vietnam to independence.

The 30th of May is Parliament Day in Croatia. The parliament, called Sabor, is unicameral since 2001. It had been part of Yugoslavia from the mid 20th century until 1991 but in the 7th century, it started off as two dukedoms.

The National Holiday in Cameroon is celebrated for the ceartion of the state in 1972. Cameroon comes from Rio dos Camarões (River of Shrimp), a name given by the Portuguese in the 15th century.

Today is "anti-tobacco day". Personally I am not a smoker, at least not of cigarettes. But I do like to smoke fish, meat and vegetables in my own oven. If you are dying for a smoke, have a look at the smoked salmon page.

On the 10th of May 1837 started the "Panic of 1837" in New York. Banks went bankrupt because of the enormous inflation and unemployment figures were very high. Crises have since then become a regular phenomenon.

The Día de las Glorias Navales or Navy Day in Chile commemorates the naval Battle of Iquique (1879), where Chile beat Bolivia and Peru. The battle took place in the Pacific and many ships sent to the bottom of the sea next to the mussels.