Spicy celebration: Nov. 22 marks Kimchi Day in Maryland
BALTIMORE -- Thursday might be Turkey Day, but what about Kimchi Day?
Last year, former Gov. Larry Hogan proclaimed November 22 as Kimchi Day in Maryland to recognize the importance of the dish and "further celebrate Korean culture in Maryland."
The spicy, salty and sour fermented cabbage is a traditional Korean side dish that has gained international popularity.
The South Korean government first designated Nov. 22 as Kimchi Day in 2019. November marks the typical time for Gimjang, the process of making batches of kimchi before winter, according to the Korean Herald.
Gimjang kimchi traditionally involves outdoor storage in large earthenware jars, but nowadays, special kimchi fridges are used for storage.
Maryland's governor's house is known as the first and only governor's mansion in the nation with a kimchi refrigerator, according to the governor's office.
Former first Lady Yumi Hogan, who is Korean, promoted kimchi in her "Yumi Cooks" series.
California, Virginia, New York and Washington D.C. have also designated Nov. 22 as Kimchi Day.