Egg Nog Day

What the day is

Egg Nog Day is observed every year on December 24, placing it squarely on Christmas Eve, when the drink is most likely to appear on a kitchen counter or in a punch bowl anyway. Eggnog is a rich, cold (or sometimes warm) beverage made from milk or cream, eggs, and sugar, usually seasoned with nutmeg and often cinnamon or vanilla. Many versions include spirits such as rum, brandy, or bourbon, though alcohol-free eggnog is just as common, and cartons of it fill grocery store dairy cases from late November onward.

Origin and history

The drink is much older than the observance. Eggnog descends from early English posset, a hot mixture of milk curdled with ale or wine and flavored with spices. Because eggs, milk, and imported spices were costly, such drinks were associated with prosperous households. The version familiar today took firm hold in colonial America, where dairy animals were plentiful and rum from the Caribbean trade was comparatively cheap, making it an affordable holiday indulgence. By the nineteenth century eggnog was closely tied to Christmas and New Year visiting in the United States, and regional variants appeared, including Puerto Rico's coquito, made with coconut milk, and Mexico's rompope.

The origin of the word itself is debated; "nog" may refer to a strong ale or to the small wooden mug called a noggin. Who first designated December 24 as Egg Nog Day is not documented, and the observance appears to have spread informally through holiday food calendars rather than from any single founder or proclamation.

How to take part

The most direct approach is to make a batch from scratch. A basic recipe calls for egg yolks beaten with sugar, whisked into warmed milk and cream, then chilled and dusted with freshly grated nutmeg. Whipped egg whites folded in at the end give a lighter, foamier texture. Cooks who prefer to avoid raw eggs can gently heat the custard base to a safe temperature or use pasteurized eggs.

• Set up a small tasting of store-bought brands against a homemade batch
• Offer a spiced non-alcoholic version alongside a spiked one so everyone can join in
• Try coquito, rompope, or a warm English-style posset for comparison
• Use leftover eggnog in French toast, bread pudding, pancakes, or coffee

Because the date coincides with Christmas Eve, the simplest observance is often the most fitting: pour a glass while wrapping gifts, and grate a little extra nutmeg on top.