A chequered blanket, a woven basket laid open, brimming with crusty bread, ripe fruit, and sweet tea… Aah… What more could you want?
If there’s anything in the world that speaks ‘spring’ to me—apart from the usual love, flowers, and pinks—it’s first and foremost picnic season.
Since I was little, I have always been enchanted by their beautiful baskets and finger-licking foods. Now, I organise a big picnic every year during May, and every time I can’t wait for the date to arrive.
You may think that the idea of eating outdoors is very modern, dear reader; however, surprisingly, you’ll soon discover that it could probably be as old as humanity itself. Ancient civilisations like the Greeks and Romans frequently dined al fresco during festivals and hunts. Roman banquets were quite elaborate affairs, and though they were typically held indoors, records and documents suggest their country villas and garden feasts offered early glimpses of the picnic spirit.
But the adored activity as we know it, so terribly aesthetic, did not bloom until much later.
The term picnic, in fact, finds its origin in the French word ‘pique-nique’, first appearing in written form in the 1692 edition of Origines de la Langue Française. It initially referred to a social gathering where each guest contributed a portion of food. The term also combines ‘piquer’ (to pick or peck) and ‘nique’ (a thing of little value), evoking an informal and joyful nibbling.
It’s very cute.
The activity was popularised in France during the 18th century, and, across the Channel, England fell under the picnic’s spell not much after. As I said in my fairies article, with the Industrial Revolution rising in the background, the English elite heavily romanticised nature. And therefore, dining al fresco became an essential part of country outings, often accompanied by poetry, paintings, or leisurely rowing. In 1801, a band of French-culture enthusiasts in London kicked off the Pic Nic Society—a fascinating indoor social club.
Not everyone could enter, however, because the admission came at a price. You had to bring a homemade dish and six bottles of wine. Which is rather interesting, if you ask me.
The club eventually didn’t last, but the term ‘picnic’ definitely stuck around.
Jane Austen’s novels and, later, the works of the Pre-Raphaelites were also steeped in the imagery of picnics, with green hills and baskets full of seasonal delights. Meanwhile, in the Victorian era, outdoor meals became a true symbol of refinement, with servants often carrying ornate silverware, roast fowl, and wine into the countryside.
Quite the luxury.
The etymology of this curious word is therefore wholly European, but if you look for it, you’ll quickly discover that the concept of communal dining in nature is actually more global than you think and can be found all over the world. In Japan, for example, we have Hanami, the cherry blossom picnic, dating back over a thousand years and remaining a cherished spring tradition even nowadays. In Iran, Sizdah Bedar, the 13th day of Nowruz (Persian New Year), is a nationwide picnic day.
Then in the United States (and by the 20th century) it became a symbol and staple of family life, and… Let’s just say that having a meal outdoors is truly part of every culture.
I mean, with such a beautiful world we live in, how could we not eat in nature?
Nevertheless, the idea of a picnic that we have today, no matter how old this fascinating activity is, dates back only to the last century. Indeed, the image of a family sharing a meal al fresco exploded only from the 1950s onwards. The idea of laying a checkered blanket on the grass and of kits with cutlery and plastic plates that you can strap into the basket did, in fact, boom in the 60s and 70s, and not centuries before.
As a society we evolved, and so did the picnic.
That said, although it certainly is different from how it was in the past, I think at the core it remained the same.
The sole purpose of a picnic is to enjoy yourself and lots of good food. Something that I believe is unchanged.
But let’s go on.
The types of cuisines that people prepare and bring for this charming activity can vary to such an extent that you don’t even know what to choose. We have cheeses, wine, lots of bread, pastries… you name it!
But my go-to and my absolute favourites, if you’d like my opinion, are freshly baked focaccia—as an Italian, I can’t help myself—brioche bread, a mix of strawberries and blueberries, cold tea, and obviously a delicious chocolate cake.
My picnic for this year is already planned, and I hope you’ll do one as well.
Therefore, my dear, until then and as we wait, all that’s left for us to do is simply raise our teacups and have a toast…
…to sunny days, good friends, good food, and plenty of little moments worth remembering.
Up, Picnic on the Ouse by William Kay Blacklock (early 20th century)
Sources:
The Library of the Unseen 
Penny for your thoughts…