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Get ready to get your hands dirty and satisfy your seafood cravings on April 17, also known as National Crawfish Day! This delicious holiday celebrates the unique and flavorful Louisiana delicacy – crawfish. These small crustaceans have been a staple in Cajun and Creole cuisine for centuries, with records of Native Americans catching and eating them dating back to the 1700s. Whether boiled, fried, or cooked in a savory stew, crawfish is definitely worth celebrating on this special day. So gather your friends and family and indulge in some tasty crawfish dishes!
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1700s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Crawfish Consumption Begins</div><div class='timeline-text'>Native Americans in Louisiana region start using crawfish as a food source, creating the early basis for crawfish dishes in the future.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1800s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Crawfish in Cajun Cuisine</div><div class='timeline-text'>As Cajun and Creole communities develop in Louisiana, crawfish becomes a central ingredient in many traditional dishes.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1960s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>First Crawfish Farms</div><div class='timeline-text'>High demand leads to the development of crawfish farming in Louisiana, solidifying crawfish as a local economic powerhouse.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1980s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Crawfish Festivals Emerge</div><div class='timeline-text'>Local communities across Louisiana begin hosting annual crawfish festivals, attracting hundreds of thousands of attendees and solidifying its cultural identity.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1990s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>National Recognition</div><div class='timeline-text'>The popularity of crawfish spreads nationally through popular media, Cajun-themed restaurants, and cooking shows, contributing to the recognition of National Crawfish Day.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2010s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Crawfish Industry Growth</div><div class='timeline-text'>Crawfish farming grows into a multimillion-dollar industry, with Louisiana producing around 90% of all crawfish in the United States.</div></div></div>
<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Host a crawfish boil</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Gather your friends and family together for a traditional crawfish boil. This is a fun and delicious way to celebrate National Crawfish Day.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Try a new crawfish recipe</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Get creative in the kitchen and try out a new recipe featuring crawfish. From étouffée to gumbo, there are so many delicious ways to cook with crawfish.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Visit a local crawfish farm</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Take a trip to a nearby crawfish farm and learn about the process of harvesting these tasty crustaceans. You may even get to sample some fresh crawfish while you're there!</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Attend a crawfish festival</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Many cities and towns host annual crawfish festivals, complete with live music, games, and of course, plenty of crawfish to enjoy. Look for one in your area and join in on the festivities.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Create a crawfish-themed menu</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>If you're feeling extra festive, plan a whole meal centered around crawfish. From appetizers to desserts, there are plenty of ways to incorporate this tasty seafood into your dishes.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Crawfish is a delicious seafood delicacy</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Crawfish has a unique flavor that is unmatched by other seafood. It's often described as a cross between lobster and shrimp, making it a must-try for any seafood lover.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It's a tradition in many Southern states</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Crawfish boils are popular events in places like Louisiana and Texas, bringing friends and family together to enjoy this tasty crustacean. National Crawfish Day gives us a chance to celebrate this beloved tradition and the culture surrounding it.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>There are endless ways to prepare crawfish</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Whether boiled, fried, or added into soups and stews, there are countless ways to cook up crawfish. This holiday encourages us to get creative and try new recipes featuring this delicious ingredient. Who knows, you might even discover your new favorite dish!</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Crawfish molt to grow</h3><p class='facts-content'>Crawfish, like other crustaceans, shed their exoskeletons in a process known as molting. After molting, they consume their discarded shells as a source of nutrients for the regeneration of a larger and stronger shell.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Crawfish are also known as "mudbugs"</h3><p class='facts-content'>Crawfish are often referred to as "mudbugs" due to their love for digging into the soft, wet earth (or "mud") in areas such as bayous where they make their homes.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Crawfish have two distinct types of claws</h3><p class='facts-content'>Each crawfish has a larger, more powerful claw known as the 'crusher', used for breaking and grinding food, and a smaller 'cutter' or 'seizer' used to rip apart and cut its food.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Crawfish purging is a common practice before cooking</h3><p class='facts-content'>The process of "purging" cleans the crawfish by soaking them in fresh, salted water prior to cooking, to remove mud veins and other impurities, enhancing the overall flavor of the end dish.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Crawfish have blue blood</h3><p class='facts-content'>Similar to many other crustaceans, crawfish have blue blood. This is due to a respiratory pigment called hemocyanin in their blood, which unlike the hemoglobin in human blood, turns blue when exposed to oxygen.</p></div></div>
National Crawfish Day is celebrated on April 17 every year. In 2024 National Crawfish Day will occur on a Wednesday.
2023
Apr 17
Monday
2024
Apr 17
Wednesday
2025
Apr 17
Thursday
2026
Apr 17
Friday
2027
Apr 17
Saturday
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