National Fish and Chip Day will move from its traditional Friday slot in 2024 to coincide with the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, the largest naval, land and air operation in history.
Next year the celebrations will take place on Thursday 6th June in honour of all those involved in the D-Day landings. It will also recognise the huge importance fish and chips played during WWI and WWII, and on D-Day in particular. Fish and chips were called ‘Good Companions’ by Winston Churchill who ensured they weren’t rationed as he felt it would be detrimental to the morale of the nation. As a result, the British government safeguarded the supply of fish and potatoes during both world wars to ensure the dish continued.
In addition, during the D-Day landings, soldiers who found themselves behind enemy lines at night and needed a way of telling whether someone nearby was a friend of foe devised a two-word code. One would call ‘fish’ and the other replied ‘chips’.
Gary Lewis, president of the National Edible Oil Distributors Association (NEODA), founders of National Fish and Chip Day, said: “National Fish and Chip Day has always brought the nation together to celebrate this iconic dish, and because of the intrinsic links it has always had with the World Wars and D-Day we knew we wanted to be as involved as possible so have moved the date to show our support.”
National Fish and Chip Day recognises and thanks everyone involved in bringing fish and chips to the centre of every community, from the fishers who go out in all weathers and the farmers who grow and harvest potatoes and peas, to the fish and chip shops and restaurants who take those fresh ingredients and create a family favourite.
For more information on National Fish & Chip Day, visit www.nationalfishandchipday.org.uk
