Maize Day

Maize Day, observed on November 28, celebrates maize—one of the world’s most important crops and a staple food for countless communities. Also known as corn, maize has nourished people for thousands of years and plays a central role in cuisines, traditions, agriculture, and economies around the globe.

The observance is an opportunity to appreciate the farmers and agricultural communities who grow this versatile crop, while recognizing the many ways maize is used—from tortillas, porridge, and popcorn to animal feed, cooking products, and bio-based materials. On November 28, people can mark Maize Day by learning about maize’s cultural history, enjoying a favorite corn-based dish, or reflecting on the importance of sustainable food production.

**Maize Day, observed on November 28,** is a commemorative occasion that recognizes the historical, agricultural, and cultural importance of maize, also known as corn. Unlike long-established religious or national holidays, Maize Day does not have a widely documented founding event or universally recognized creator. Available accounts describe it primarily as a day for appreciating maize and the many ways it supports food systems, traditions, and economies.

The history behind the observance is rooted in maize’s much older story. Maize was domesticated in Mesoamerica thousands of years ago, most likely from a wild grass known as teosinte. Indigenous peoples developed numerous varieties suited to different climates and uses, and maize became central to the civilizations of the Maya, Mexica, and other Indigenous societies. It served not only as food but also as a foundation of agriculture, trade, ceremony, and mythology. Following European contact in the late 15th and 16th centuries, maize spread widely across Europe, Africa, and other parts of the world.

Over time, maize changed from a primarily regional staple into one of the world’s most important crops. It is consumed fresh or dried, ground into flour and meal, and processed into products such as starch, sweeteners, cooking oil, animal feed, and biofuel. This broad evolution helps explain the modern significance of Maize Day: the observance offers an opportunity to consider both the crop’s ancient Indigenous origins and its role in contemporary agriculture, food production, and rural livelihoods.

Observed on **November 28**, Maize Day can also encourage reflection on agricultural diversity and the knowledge preserved by farming communities. Celebrations and educational activities may highlight traditional maize dishes, heirloom varieties, farming practices, and the crop’s importance to cultural identity. Although the observance’s formal history is not extensively documented, its purpose is clear: to acknowledge maize as a crop with deep historical roots and continuing global importance.