Roast Chestnuts Day 2021: It’s time to honor the humble chestnut on Roast Chestnuts Day, December 14. As it’s the season to be jolly, Roast Chestnuts Day comes at a perfect time for the holiday season. Roasted chestnuts often fill the air with their earthy scent as they’re cooked by street vendors during December. Not only this, but the delicious snack keeps the cold away for those in the northern hemisphere. While the day is a relatively new celebration, the tradition of roasting chestnuts has been around for a long time. When they are roasted, the natural sweetness of the nut is revealed, delighting our taste buds!
History of Roast Chestnuts Day:
The exact history, origin, and the founder who established the Roast Chestnuts Day are unknown. The chestnuts were found to be sold by street vendors during the 16th century. People ate these chestnuts as quick warm snacks during the winter season. They are found to be low in calories and a good source of fiber. Chestnuts are rich in vitamin C. Chestnut is a word derived from an earlier English term named “chesten nut,” which descends from the Old French word Chastain. These chestnuts are carefully roasted until the natural sweetness of the nut is revealed.
The superior fruiting varieties of chestnuts will have good size, sweet taste, and easy-to-remove inner skins. The early Christians considered the chestnuts as the symbol of chastity. In a typically French cooking style of the marron glacé, a candied chestnut involves 16 different processes that are always served during Christmas and New Year’s time. On St. Martin’s Day in Portugal, people prefer eating roasted chestnuts as tradition.
How to Celebrate Roast Chestnuts Day:
The best way to celebrate the day is by having a handful of chestnuts and filling up your mouth. They will be a perfect evening snack in the chill winter. You can learn to roast the chestnuts and start making them on your own rather than buying the packed one. Serve it hot for your family members. Include chestnuts as a part of sweet making and in celebration day cuisines.
5 amazing facts about Chestnuts:
- Chestnut trees live long
The lifespan of an average chestnut tree can be anywhere from 200–800 years.
- The oldest chestnut tree
The oldest- and largest known chestnut tree can be found in Sicily, which is thought to be between 2,000 and 4,000 years old!
- Full of good stuff
Chestnuts are the only nut that contains Vitamin C.
- The food of chastity
To the early Christians, chestnuts symbolized chastity.
- The master nut
In Japan, chestnuts represent mastery and strength, and are traditionally served at New Years’.
