Welsh rarebit is a British dish that consists of some type of toasted bread topped with a special cheddar cheese sauce. The cheddar sauce usually contains either ale or beer, mustard, paprika, cayenne, and Worcestershire sauce. It’s a dish that was initially cited at the beginning of the 18th century, but it’s likely much older than that. Since its conception, it has traveled all around Europe and is now popular in many European countries. That’s probably why there’s a holiday named National Welsh Rarebit Day dedicated to it—a holiday celebrated on September 3rd.

The History of Welsh Rarebit

Welsh rarebit was originally called Welsh rabbit before the 18th century but was for some reason changed to Welsh rarebit. It’s unknown why this dish was created, but some food historians have posited that it was created as a sarcastic sneer by Welsh commoners as a commentary on not being able to hunt rabbits. Why couldn’t the commoners hunt rabbits? It’s because wild game such as rabbit was considered the property of the king, so hunting them would be regarded as poaching. Therefore, the cheese in this dish could be seen as an alternative to the rabbit the peasants wanted the dish to contain. Of course, this explanation is just a hypothesis. No one knows for sure why this dish is named Welsh rarebit.

Facts About Welsh Rarebit

Since you obviously intend on celebrating National Welsh Rarebit Day, we thought you’d enjoy some trivia about this dish to share with friends and family. Below are some of the fascinating facts that we’ve learned about Welsh rarebit:

• The term “Welsh rabbit” was first recorded in 1725.
• The term “Welsh rarebit” was recorded by Francis Grose in 1785.
• Welsh rarebit is generally made with cheddar cheese.
• Some versions of Welsh rarebit are made with ale, while others are made with beer.

Observing National Welsh Rarebit Day

If you’re going to celebrate National Welsh Rarebit Day, then you’re probably going to want to enjoy a plate of this dish. For some people, that could be as simple as heading down to the local pub and ordering a plate. However, for others, it’s not that easy. These people will have to make their own Welsh rarebit. There are several great recipes available on the Internet, so anyone looking to make this dish can choose one of these recipes and make it. While you’re making Welsh rarebit, be sure to use the hashtag #NationalWelshRarebitDay on your social media accounts to let the world know about this dish and this holiday.