As much as you would like to imagine tiny buffalo flying about, donating their wings so we can have tasty treats at the bar – that doesn’t happen.
Buffalos don’t have wings, and as far as scientists understand it, they never did. You’re more likely to find fairy dust from Neverland.
What we commonly refer to as buffalo wings are, in fact, chicken wings. And, they’re not from baby chickens either. Chicken wings are jointed, and it’s possible to get both the little drumstick and the little wing pieces from a single wing.
Now you know.
You should also know that July 29 is National Chicken Wing Day. (Notice how it’s not called National Buffalo Wing Day?) We have such a day because Americans have been having a love affair with chicken wings for a few decades now.
We love to douse chicken wings in any number of sauces, from Teriyaki to I really can’t eat another bite. Indeed, we enjoy the phenomenon of chicken wings so much (and their use as a vehicle for sauces) that someone went as far as breading chicken breast pieces and calling them boneless chicken wings so that we could feed them to picky eaters.
In case you’re wondering, there is no such thing as a boneless wing in the real world. That would serve very little purpose. But, if your imagination can do it, then put it up there with buffalo wings. Why not?
Back to National Chicken Wing Day… and it is one of the easiest foodie holidays to celebrate. It really is that. The majority of Americans can’t go a mile without running into a place that serves wings – and they’re likely to have their favorite spot and their favorite sauce. That’s the way it is.
On the other hand, July 29 is also National Lasagna Day. In spirit, this day is a little harder to celebrate because you can’t get lasagna every three feet. And, it’s a process to prepare.
Except, it’s not.
You see, lasagna refers to a single sheet of pasta – dry or fresh. That’s it, a single piece of pasta. Lasagne is the plural form of lasagna, and it’s how the Italians refer to the dish we know and love; they would never call it lasagna.
And, we’re not entirely sure why National Lasagna Day is at the end of July when nobody is really going to prepare it. Lasagna Lasagne is much better in October or February when you don’t mind the oven on high.
Of course, if you don’t like either holiday, may we suggest celebrating National Hamburger Day on July 28? It’s also incredibly simple to celebrate this day; perhaps as easy as National Chicken Wing Day. (And you can actually have hamburgers made from buffalo. That actually makes sense.)
