Maize Day Date in the current year: November 29, 2024

Today, maize (also called corn in North America and Australia) is a staple food in many parts of the world, but it hasn’t always been so. Maize is native to the Americas and was unknown in Europe prior to Columbus’s arrival to the continent and the beginning of its European colonization.

Maize was domesticated in what is now Mexico thousands of years ago and spread throughout the continent from there. Following their arrival to the Americas in the late 15th century, Spanish explorers and traders brought maize to Europe and introduced it to other countries. The impressive spread of maize across the world can be attributed to the fact that it is a versatile crop that grows well in various climates.

These days maize is widely cultivated in many countries, and its total production surpasses that of rice and wheat. As of 2020, the world’s top five maize producers were the United States, China, Brazil, Argentina, and Ukraine, with the United States producing almost a third of the global total

There are many maize cultivars that can be divided into six major types: dent corn, flint corn, flour corn, pod corn, popcorn, and sweet corn. Sweet corn is the most common variety of maize grown for human consumption; its distinctive feature is its high sugar content, hence the name.

Maize has an impressive range of uses. It can be consumed directly or used to produce various food products and beverages, including cornmeal (ground dried maize), corn oil, corn starch, corn syrup, popcorn, and bourbon whiskey. Corn is also used in the production of animal feed and fodder for livestock, ethanol and other bio-fuels, various chemical products derived from cornstarch, and more.

Maize is a common ingredient in many cuisines. It is a staple of Mexican cuisine, which is not surprising since this crop originated in Mexico. Cornmeal dishes resembling a thick porridge exist in many cultures: Italian polenta, Romanian and Moldavian mamaliga, African ugali (known by many other names depending on the country), Brazilian angu, Ukrainian banosh, etc.

Maize Day was inadvertently launched in 2004 by artist Corinne Lightweaver. It began as a small research project intended to commemorate Thanksgiving through the viewpoint of the indigenous people. Many Native Americans primarily associate Thanksgiving with the centuries of oppression and discrimination, and Maize Day is meant to counterbalance that and focus on what Native Americans bring to the table, both literally and figuratively.

The best way to celebrate Maize Day is to cook a delicious meal featuring corn. If you’re not in the mood to cook or have too much leftovers from your Thanksgiving meal, you can pop some corn and watch a movie with your family and friends, or drink some bourbon (which is made from corn, in case you didn’t know). And don’t forget to spread the word about the holiday on social media using the hashtags#MaizeDay and #NationalMaizeDay.