16 January: what is celebrated today

International Croquette Day

Few delights inspire as much agreement as the croquette. Crispy on the outside and creamy within, this small bite has won over tables around the world since, in 19th-century France, royal cooks elevated it to the status of a delicacy. Although its exact origin remains shrouded in debate — between Antonin Carême and the great chefs of the French court — there is one point on which everyone agrees: the croquette was born in a country in love with culinary technique.

What is fascinating is its versatility. A croquette can take almost any ingredient: chicken, ham, mushrooms, cheese, seafood, tofu... even sweet versions. But its secret remains constant: a light béchamel sauce and a coating which, when immersed in hot oil, produces that sound — croquer — that gave it its name. Celebrating it is, above all, a way of championing home cooking, the kind that turns leftovers into treasure and reminds us that culinary ingenuity is often born of simplicity.

On this day, the croquette becomes a pretext for sharing a table and conversation. Making or tasting them becomes a collective, almost affectionate gesture that restores gastronomy to its most intimate dimension: cooking for others.

International Beatles Day

Since their debut at the Cavern Club in 1961, The Beatles ceased to be simply a band and became a cultural phenomenon. On 16 January, in tribute to the opening of that legendary Liverpool venue, many fans celebrate the date as International Beatles Day. Others prefer 6 July — the day Lennon and McCartney met — or 10 July, marked by the band's triumphant return to its home city. But, as with legends, the Beatles do not need a single date: their story is made up of multiple beginnings.

The quartet's music emerged in a world troubled by political tensions, wars and social transformations. Their songs quickly became a refuge and a statement: messages of peace, equality and hope that defined a generation. Their ability to reinvent themselves — from early rock and roll to psychedelic explorations — marked the evolution of 20th-century music and left a mark that crosses continents and decades.

Remembering the Beatles also means remembering the power of popular culture to transform sensibilities. Films, recordings, reinterpretations and tributes keep alive a legacy that does not age. Listening to them today means rediscovering a band that still sounds as if it had just been born.

International Spicy Food Day

Spice is a language of its own: a blend of fire and nuance that runs through cultures and geographies. From South American chillies to Asian curries, its history is as old as agriculture itself. Celebrating this day is a tribute to the seasonings that awaken our senses and have accompanied traditional remedies, culinary rituals and family recipes. Its protagonist is capsaicin, that molecule which turns a simple bite into an explosion.

For some, spice is a challenge; for others, an almost addictive pleasure. Recent studies suggest health benefits when it is consumed in moderation: activating metabolism, improving circulation and providing antioxidants. In excess, of course, it calls for caution. But the true charm of spice lies in its variety: thick sauces such as Indonesian sambal, Korean stews such as kimchi jjigae, Thai soups such as Tom Yum, or recipes as fierce as Ethiopian Sik Sik Wat. Each dish is a sensory and cultural journey.

This day invites us to savour that journey, to try something new, to discover how far our tolerance for culinary heat goes. And, of course, to share on social media that moment when food seems to be on fire — and yet we ask for one more bite.