Welcome to our series sharing Food Holidays: August 5th, 2022. Today is National Oyster Day. I don’t know about you but I don’t care for Oysters and Charlie hasn’t ever had any Oysters. As for David I don’t know if he has had Oysters or not. So I think we will skip celebrating this holiday. What about you?
August 5th is National Oyster Day!
The Five Facts you should know about Oysters:
- Did you know the average 3 inch Oyster filters about 50 gallons of Water a day.
- Americans eat more Oysters than any other Country in the world.
- Most Oysters varieties in North America are actually native to Eastern Europe or Asia. Oysters were brought here by ships over the Centuries
- The world’s only Oyster Museum is on Chincoteague Island, Virginia.
- For Centuries, Oysters are one of the best known aphrodisiac foods in the culinary world
On August 5th each year, the U.S. honors a very special Mollusk, the Oyster, for National Oyster Day. Oysters are enjoyed as Seafood in many parts of the world, this fine delicacy needs no introduction. Someone certainly thought it could use a celebration. Boil it, eat it fresh, put it in soup there are many delicious ways to feast on Oysters. As well as just as many ways to enjoy this holiday.
History of National Oyster Day
Oysters have been around for a long long time. Scientists believe they were one of the Earth’s first living inhabitants. In fact, they have found fossils of Oysters that date back to when the Dinosaurs walked the earth.
Not only have Oysters been around for ages, but Oysters have also been a source of food for just as long. Early humans preferred tossing Oysters into the fire rather than prying them open with tools or stone, data shows. Archaeologists have also found evidence that proves people from the Coastal regions consumed Oysters regularly and fossilized Oyster shells from various periods prove this without a doubt.
Oysters were important to many Civilizations. The Greeks loved them so much that they began to cultivate Oysters. Greeks were the very first Civilization in the World to do so. Fishermen would scatter pieces of broken pottery in places where Oysters grew to encourage baby Oysters to attach themselves to the pieces. They would then transport these pieces, baby Oysters in tow, to other places. These guys even found a use for Oyster shells, using them to cast ballots during voting time. Greek myths also began to feature the Oyster the famous Greek goddess of Beauty and Love, Aphrodite, is said to have been born from the Sea in an Oyster.
After Greek Civilization declined, the Romans took up the mantle, continuing to hold Oysters in high regard. Oysters became part of the rich Roman’s meals and also appeared in Roman mythology. The Romans’ love for the Oyster led to overharvesting, however, causing a scarcity. They attempted harvesting and transplanting Oysters, but nothing stuck. By the time the World entered the 8th Century, this rich man’s food was now considered a common delicacy.
Between the 18th and 19th Centuries, the World entered a period called the Golden Age of Oysters. Even the famous satirist, essayist, poet, and author Jonathan Swift was a fan. There was a massive surge in Oyster production, making it cheaper to procure. This led to the Oyster being featured in dining rooms across the U.S. and Europe.
In the 19th Century, New York gained the title of the world’s biggest producer of Oysters. The New York Harbor apparently held half the world’s Oysters before it was destroyed by overharvesting and pollution. History also documents how Oysters are the reason behind New York building its restaurant trade. Oysters were such an integral part of this City’s economy that they even used the shells to pave roads and create cement, amongst other items. Apart from New York, multiple other states like Baltimore, New Orleans, and Philadelphia supplied Oysters. Oysters were in such abundance that Oyster Saloons now called Oyster Houses popped up everywhere. These were the precursor to today’s Oyster Raw Bars.
With the railroad came a way to transport Oysters quickly, and this opened up new markets for Oysters. Two other major developments also spurred the Oyster trade canning and refrigeration.
Unfortunately, in a repeat of history, this rising demand led to overharvesting once again, and New York’s Oyster beds went into decline. While the State did try to introduce foreign Oyster species and was moderately successful, this also brought disease, which destroyed most of the beds by the 1900s. The reduced production and increased popularity hiked prices, and the common meal became a rare delicacy once again, where it remains to this day.
While we do not know the origins of National Oyster Day, we know it is celebrated mostly in the U.S. and the U.K.
How To Celebrate National Oyster Day 2021
- Many people enjoy oysters raw, with a dash of lemon. Why not try out something new and experiment with your usual recipe. Fry Oysters, boil Oysters, grill Oysters, or pickle Oysters. You can find a lot of inspiration online.
- Tired of the kitchen? Grab your family and go bar hopping, or Oyster-bar hopping. Find local guides and websites that have rated various Oyster Bars, and visit a couple.
- Check out a documentary about Oysters and Oyster harvesting like “The Oyster Divers” by Erin DeJesus, “.
5 Fun Facts About Oysters
- Oysters take on characteristics of the Water bodies in which they live, which is why East and West Coast U.S. Oysters taste very different.
- Did you know there are more than 100 different species of Oysters.
- Only one out of every 10,000 Oysters produces a pearl, in Oysters that we don’t eat.
- Seattle, Washington, is the World’s largest producer of cultivated pearls, aka pearls initiated under controlled conditions.
- Oysters reach their full size after up to three years.
Why We Love National Oyster Day 2021
- Like all Seafood, Oysters are super healthy. Whether you eat Oysters raw or you cook Oysters, they still don’t lose their nutritional value. With all the proteins and vitamins Oysters give us, is it any wonder Oysters support lung, brain, and even skin health?
- Depending on where you are and how you choose to eat Oysters, each Oyster tastes different. Oysters can be Buttery, Lemony, or Salty. Oysters taste like the Ocean they come from and have a flavor that can’t be duplicated anywhere else.
- The more we learn about this holiday, the more we understand how crucial these Mollusks are for the environment. Their valves can cleanse an entire ecosystem of pollutants. This holiday is also a great reminder of how overharvesting can deplete resources at a devastating rate, encouraging the use of regulations when farming Oysters.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
