Oatmeal Festival in the USA (08/04)

«Oatmeal, sir» – probably everyone remembers this British classic phrase. Oatmeal is considered a recognized English dish, a national feature. In English-speaking countries, pressed oats (oatmeal) are known as «Protestant oats». Quakers oats). The cereal porridge is also called. However, not only Foggy Albion can boast of its love for this wonderful dish.

Every year on the second Friday of April, the three-day Festival of Oatmeal begins in the American town of St. George (South Carolina).

The festival was first held in 1985. This happened after Bill Hunter, manager of the Piggly Wiggly supermarket, noticed that St. George residents buy oatmeal in significantly larger quantities than in other cities and eat it with constant pleasure and appetite. And so this festival was born, reminding the American public, fattening on hamburgers, of a healthy food…

I liked the festival, its traditions were gradually formed, and today it is a fun holiday where you can not only use oatmeal for its intended purpose, but also eat it at speed and even lie in porridge.

Music and dance competitions that play throughout the entire celebration only whet the appetite of the participants. In addition, in addition to oatmeal, participants in the celebrations are invited to taste pies and other dishes, the preparation of which is not complete without oatmeal as an integral part of the local culture.

The number of festival participants is growing year by year and already amounts to tens of thousands of people. In addition to the honorary title, the winners of competitions receive scholarships as a reward. Can you imagine? – here you can not only eat porridge, but also get money for it!

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