National Guacamole Day is celebrated every year on September 16. The first thing we need to ask ourselves is why do we have a holiday that celebrates guacamole?

National Day Calendar continues to research the source and history of this holiday also and to date, there is no clear reason.

The good news is that we have a day reserved to indulge in eating one of America’s favorite dips. Avocados are the main ingredient in guacamole, which are also known to be beneficial in cosmetics (like facial masks). They also provide healthy fats into our bloodstream known as “good cholesterol.”

The name GUACAMOLE derives from the Nahuati word, ahuacmolli. Ahuacamolli literally translates to “avocado sauce.” The Aztecs first made guacamole nearly 500 years ago, when it was made purely of mashed avocados. Over time and in various regions, different spices were added.

There are many ways to prepare guacamole. Common spices and ingredients are cilantro, onion, sea salt, ground pepper, lime juice, garlic, cumin, jalapeno peppers and tomatoes. The most common way these spices are blended together is by using a mortar and pestle. This is a stone bowl and a stone utensil that crushes and blends all the spices together and once the avocados are added, the mixture becomes guacamole.

My own family gets together frequently and nine times out of ten, we eat Mexican food. The menu generally includes tacos, Spanish rice, guacamole and chips. The way my mom and grandmother make it is with avocados, red onion, lime juice, sea salt, black pepper, cilantro and jalapeno peppers.

For those who don’t particularly care for guacamole but still want to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with traditional foods, National Quesadilla Day (Día de la Quesadilla) is held later in the month, on September 25.