When is National Cheese Day? (Actually)

National Cheese Day

20th January marks National Cheese Lovers Day every year, but is not to be mixed up with National Cheese Day. So what sets them apart?

• 20^th January is National Cheese Lovers Day
• 4^th June is National Cheese Day

Looking for more Cheese days?

Sure, there’s Easter, Christmas, New Year and Father’s Day to boost our average cheese consumption, but let’s not forget about the following celebrations, all worthy of 24 hours of dedicated cheesing.

Why Are There So Many Cheese Celebration Days? 

Alright, I’m just going to say it: If you were to ask me what my personal raison d’être is, I’d probably answer, “a large slather of Brie de Meaux on a crusty French baguette.” And who could blame me? Cheese is glorious. It’s decadent, comforting, and, let’s be honest, just the thing that can elevate a mediocre day into a damn-good one. 

National Cheese Lovers Day or National Cheese Day: Which Is Best?

But recently, whilst discussing with the Academy team how we were going to mark National Cheese Lovers Day on 20^th January, there was some debate over the actual date, what its official title was and whether it is a global thing, just celebrated in the US, or was this actually the UK one?

So I got down to some highly intellectual research of “celebration” days in the ever-expanding “Celebration Day Calendar” (thanks Google), which got me pondering the question, “why does cheese deserve not just one, but multiple celebration days throughout the year?”

20^th January is National Cheese Lovers Day, whilst 4^th June is National Cheese Day, and there’s an alarming number of other cheese-centric holidays scattered in between and either side. So, let’s take a deep dive into why cheese gets to have so many days dedicated to its glory.

Five Reasons to Celebrate Cheese

1. Because One Cheese Day Is Never Enough

Cheese is like the rockstar of the food world. Can you really celebrate something as versatile and beloved as cheese in a single day? Imagine limiting a world-class musician like Beyoncé to only one concert per year. That’s simply cruel. Cheese is that diva. We need multiple days to worship it. National Cheese Lovers Day on 20^th January exists to honour our undying adoration for cheese in all its forms, but then 4^th June rolls around with National Cheese Day, and it’s like, “Wait, wasn’t I supposed to have my moment of cheesy glory already?!” But of course, cheese is gracious enough to accept a second round of adoration. It’s a selfless act, really.

2. Cheese: A Dish for Every Day

Not all cheese is created equal. Some days you might feel like getting down and dirty with a lip-tinglingly vintage cheddar on a grilled cheese sandwich, and other days you might want to serenade your taste buds with the elegance of a brie.  Summery days call for grilled chevre on a walnut salad, whilst those cold winter nights ask for nothing but melted Ogleshield over, well just about anything.

With so many varieties—cheddar, gouda, blue, goat, feta, mozzarella—there’s no way to capture all of cheese’s personalities in just one day. We need a few days at least to explore all of its styles, recipes, flavours and pairing opportunities.

3. Cheese: Not Just a Passing Trend

It’s a well-known fact that cheese has been around a lot longer than us all, even the “well-aged” specimens amongst us. Ancient civilisations were, apparently, way ahead of the curve on this one. Who are we to ignore such a rich history?  So, if TikTok even gets its own day – 29^th December, according to NationalDayCalendar.com, then surely this ancient foodstuff deserves more than that.  Actually, rewind.  On closer inspection, this isn’t TikTok, the World’s fastest growing social media platform, this is actually TickTock Day, observed to remind us to complete any unfinished business that might need addressing before the end of the year.  Which, given the amount of cheese left in my fridge last 28^th December, this will now be a regular date in my diary.

So, multiple days? Totally justified.

4. Cheese-Inspired Days You Didn’t Know You Needed

Sure, 20^th January and 4^th June are the big leagues, but I’m here to tell you there are more cheese-related days out there than you ever dreamed of. Did you know that 12th April is National Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day? Yes, that’s right, an entire day dedicated to taking your cheesy love affair and slapping it between two perfectly toasted slices of bread.

And, if you love a bit of cheese with your wine (who doesn’t?), there’s National Wine and Cheese Day on 25^th July. Need more? National Mac and Cheese Day on 14^th July is when the glorious amalgamation of cheese, pasta, and some form of breadcrumbs gets the attention it deserves. And we can’t forget about National Cheese String Day on 20^th September. Oh wait, yes we can (and should).

And whilst here, let’s give a shout out to new kid on the block – Cheese Day in Denmark – now in it’s second year, and takes place on the first Friday each March. The entire industry – from dairy farmers to chefs – invites you to a cheese party all over Denmark with a veritable potpourri of exciting activities and tastings.

5. Cheese: The Quiet Hero

Look, I get it. Multiple cheese celebration days might seem a little excessive. But here’s the thing: Cheese doesn’t just sit there looking all smug, expecting your adoration. It works hard. It’s the quiet hero of so many meals. It’s the supporting actor that always steals the scene. And maybe we don’t need a reason to celebrate it (we certainly don’t need a red carpet) —maybe it’s just that cheese is universally delicious and worthy of being drooled over every few months.

Celebrate National Cheese Day with us

Enjoying some Cheese for National Cheese Day, use these #tags on Social media to celebrate with us:

#NationalCheeseDay #Cheese #CheeseLover #AcademyOfCheese #CheeseAcademy #CheeseDay #CheeseLovers

And whilst you’re there, do tell us what new Cheese Celebration Day you would add to the calendar.

Enjoy more cheese everyday

So, the next time you feel the urge to ask, “Why are there so many cheese days?” just stop, grab a wedge of Le Gruyère AOP, and savour the rich complexity of cheese’s many forms. Don’t overthink it. The answer is simple: It’s cheese. It’s delicious. And it’s glorious enough to deserve as many days of celebration as we can possibly throw at it.

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