Spanish paella is a dish made with rice, shrimp, vegetables, and a variety of other ingredients that are cooked all in the same pan. It is also a dish that can be made in hundreds of different ways—as evidenced by the abundance of different recipes that can be found on the internet.

And that’s why a lot of people are probably going to want to celebrate National Spanish Paella Day—if only to have an excuse to make this lovely dish. This holiday is observed annually every March 27th and encourages everyone to find a recipe they like and make their own version of this tasty dish.

The History of Paella

Although we were unable to uncover the history of National Spanish Paella Day, we were able to find out when paella was first invented. It is believed that it originally started as a dish made and enjoyed by laborers during the 15th century.

Moors in Muslim Spain had already been farming rice for the past 500 years, and it was customary at this time for cooks to combine rice with dry cod, beans, vegetables, and other ingredients to make a dish that was suitable for Lent.

Observing National Spanish Paella Day

Since Spanish paella is a dish that’s best served among people you care about, it’s probably a good idea to invite some friends and family members over before you start your celebration. Gather everyone together, grab some wine (or grape juice if you’re underage), and whip up a nice big pot of paella for everyone to enjoy.

After all, this is a communal dish and has been a communal dish for hundreds of years. While you’re celebrating, use the hashtag #NationalSpanishPaellaDay on your social media accounts to publicize this holiday all over the world.