International Falafel Day – June 12

Crispy on the outside, tender and herbaceous on the inside – the beloved chickpea fritter known as falafel gets its global moment on International Falafel Day, celebrated June 12. This food holiday honors falafel’s rich heritage and its status as a street food superstar across the Middle East and beyond. From the alleyways of Cairo and Tel Aviv to food trucks in New York and Paris, falafel has journeyed far and wide.

International Falafel Day invites people around the world (especially in the U.S., where falafel’s popularity has grown immensely) to savor these golden fried balls, learn about their history, share recipes, and maybe even engage in the friendly debates that often surround falafel (like who invented it, or whether it’s best in a pita or on a plate). Informative yet fun, the day is a celebration of culinary cross-cultural love – all centered on falafel.

How to Celebrate International Falafel Day

There are numerous ways to get into the spirit of Falafel Day, whether you’re a kitchen whiz or just looking for a great lunch. Here are a few suggestions:

• Falafel Feast: Head to your favorite local falafel spot and indulge in a falafel feast. Order it the way you enjoy most – wrapped in a warm pita with all the fixings or plated on a bed of greens. Many Middle Eastern restaurants or food trucks may offer specials on Falafel Day – perhaps a discount, extra falafel per order, or a combo deal. It’s also a great excuse to explore a new spot if you have multiple options; who makes the crispiest falafel in town?
• DIY Falafel at Home: Feeling adventurous in the kitchen? Try making falafel from scratch. Purists often start with dried chickpeas soaked overnight, grind them with herbs and spices, form them into balls or patties, and deep fry until crisp. Falafel can also be baked or air-fried for a healthier twist. Making falafel at home means you can adjust the flavor profile and gather for a falafel-making party with friends or family.
• Falafel Around the World: Since it’s an international holiday, why not take a virtual world tour? Learn how different regions enjoy falafel — from Egypt’s ta’amiya to Israeli salad bars or pomegranate sauce in the Levant. Incorporate regional twists into your meal for authenticity.
• Share and Learn: Use social media to share your falafel fun and absorb others’ experiences. Post recipes, photos, or even falafel fails using #FalafelDay or #InternationalFalafelDay. Engage with others and even introduce someone new to the dish.

Another way to celebrate is to consider the broader cultural context. Stream Middle Eastern music or watch a travel video about street food in Cairo or Tel Aviv. For families, Falafel Day can be educational—a chance to explore global food traditions and celebrate unity through shared cuisine.

Falafel’s Historical Background

The exact origin of falafel is a bit of a historical whodunit. The leading theory places its birth in Egypt, where Coptic Christians may have created it as a meat-free dish for Lent, possibly as far back as the late 19th century. Early versions in Egypt were made with fava beans (still the preference in Egypt today, where falafel is called ta’amiya). As the dish spread to the Levant (modern-day Lebanon, Syria, Israel, and Palestine), chickpeas became the base instead of fava, resulting in the chickpea falafel more common in those regions. Some claim falafel goes back even further – a popular (though not definitively proven) idea is that it might date to Pharaonic Egypt, given the country’s long history of fava bean consumption. Regardless, by the mid-20th century, falafel had become a staple across the Middle East.

Falafel made its way to the United States and Europe largely in the second half of the 20th century, often via immigrant communities and the natural foods movement. In New York City, for example, Middle Eastern falafel shops began appearing by the 1970s, at first in neighborhoods like Greenwich Village where students and artists were eager to try cheap, vegetarian fare. It also gained popularity in vegetarian and vegan circles – after all, falafel is packed with protein, plant-based, and deeply satisfying. Now, you’d be hard pressed to find a U.S. city without at least one falafel joint, whether it’s a brick-and-mortar restaurant or a food cart. Even big chains have flirted with falafel; for instance, Whole Foods sells prepared falafel in their food bars, and some fast-casual Mediterranean chains offer falafel on their menus to cater to meatless eaters.

International Falafel Day itself is a relatively new invention. It was founded in 2012 by an Israeli entrepreneur named Ben Lang. At just 18 years old, Lang had already co-founded “Hummus Day” and then initiated “Falafel Day” as a social media-driven celebration, aiming to unite people over a love of these foods. His idea caught on, with thousands of participants around the globe sharing falafel photos and deals each year on June 12. Thanks to Lang (and the power of the internet), what might have been a niche local observance turned into a truly international event. Importantly, International Falafel Day is not tied to any single country’s patriotism or brand marketing – it’s more about the community of falafel fans everywhere, transcending borders. As Lang noted, falafel may have contested origins, but it’s loved by people of many cultures. In an often divided world, enjoying falafel together is a small but tasty way to find common ground.

Falafel Fun: Recipes and Serving Ideas

• Falafel Bowl: Place falafel atop quinoa or rice, add chopped vegetables and drizzle with tahini sauce. Add tzatziki for a creamy touch – a hearty gluten‑free option.
• Sliders or Burgers: Make falafel patties and serve as sliders with buns, arugula, tomato, and spiced yogurt or hummus. Cheese is optional but adds a modern twist.
• Sauce It Up: Offer tahini, cilantro-garlic sauce, schug (Yemenite hot sauce), or spicy aioli to create a DIY falafel experience.
• Bake or Air Fry: For a lighter approach, brush falafel with oil and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20–25 minutes, or air fry at 350°F for 12–15 minutes. Results are crisp and delicious.

Pro tip: Use soaked dried chickpeas—not canned—as they yield the best texture when ground. Allow the mixture to chill before shaping for improved consistency.

For dessert, serve baklava or halva and a cup of mint tea to complete the Middle Eastern theme. A sweet nibble rounds out the celebration.

International Falafel Day Calendar

Year	Date	Day of the Week
2025	June 12, 2025	Thursday
2026	June 12, 2026	Friday
2027	June 12, 2027	Saturday
2028	June 12, 2028	Monday
2029	June 12, 2029	Tuesday

Fun Facts and Falafel Lore

• Guinness Falafel Records: The world’s largest falafel ball weighed 74.75 kg and was made in Amman, Jordan, in 2012; earlier that year, a 5,173 kg falafel serving was prepared in Lebanon.
• Falafel Map: To promote International Falafel Day, Ben Lang created a crowdsourced “Falafel Map” to locate eateries worldwide.
• Falafel Diplomacy: Falafel has been used as a symbol of peace — shared meals in Jerusalem demonstrated unity across cultural divides.
• Alternate Falafel: Variants include Indian dal falafel, green falafel with spinach/kale, and even sweet falafel with chocolate and cinnamon—creative spins on the classic.
• Falafel Emoji: Since 2019, falafel has its own emoji 🧆, appearing as three falafel balls in flatbread with lettuce.