It's time to truly embrace the start of summer with National Barbecue Day. To barbecue, you either use charcoal, wood, or gas and slow cook the food over indirect heat. The type of food and seasonings used varies, and each part of the country specializes in their own flavors and sauces. The main aspect of a barbecue is that it is a social affair. Share your favorite recipes #nationalbarbecueday

If the mouthwatering aromas wafting down the street haven't told you, we will! National Barbecue Day is celebrated every May 16 to remind us of the delicious food that we have access to while being outside and enjoying the summer weather. Have a grill in your own backyard with friends and family. Celebrate the day with great flavor and fervor!

We were unable to identify the source of National Barbecue Day. But here are some history regarding the name. The word barbecue originates from a term Taíno Indians used to refer to their wooden cooking structures. Spanish explorers later added it to their own vocabulary via the word barbacoa. The spelling barbeque begins its rise in the 1960s and BBQ in the 1970s. Barbecue, however, remains by far the most common spelling. Whether you write barbecue, barbeque, bar-b-q or BBQ, it is defined as smoked meats. These days it doesn't only include meat. You can barbecue almost anything.