A little reason to celebrate
National Tamale Day
Food ยท March 23
A day for tamales, the corn masa parcels steamed in husks or leaves, filled with meats, cheese, chiles or something sweet.
National Tamale Day falls on Tuesday, March 23, 2027. That is 147 days away.
A tamale is a parcel of corn dough, called masa, wrapped around a filling and steamed inside a corn husk or a banana leaf. The wrapper keeps everything moist while it cooks, and it comes off before eating.
Fillings range widely. Pork in red chile, chicken in green salsa, cheese with strips of roasted pepper, beans, or sweet versions tinted pink and studded with raisins. Regional styles differ too. Some are small and firm, others large and soft, and leaf-wrapped tamales tend to be broader and flatter than the husk kind.
Making them is slow work, which is why tamales are so often a group project. Families gather around a table in an assembly line, one person spreading masa, another adding filling, another folding and stacking. The gathering is called a tamalada, and the talk is usually as much the point as the food. A big batch can mean dozens, sometimes far more, and the extras go into the freezer or out to neighbors.
For a first try, buying a few from a local bakery, market or cart is the easy route. Peel back the husk, set it aside, and eat what is inside. Leftovers reheat well when steamed again, which keeps the masa tender instead of dry.
Anyone who has folded a few hundred husks knows the last tray out of the pot always tastes the best.
Ways to celebrate
- Try a tamale from a local Mexican bakery, market or food cart.
- Invite a few friends over to assemble a small batch together.
- Taste a sweet tamale alongside a savory one.
- Ask an older relative how their family made tamales.
- Share extra tamales with a neighbor.
Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Monday, March 23 |
| 2027 | Tuesday, March 23 |
| 2028 | Thursday, March 23 |
| 2029 | Friday, March 23 |
| 2030 | Saturday, March 23 |
Also on March 23
Categories: Food days