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Maize Day – The Day after Thanksgiving – Maize vs Corn Explained

There are so many reasons to celebrate during the month of November. Not only is it home to Thanksgiving and National Gratitude Month, but it’s also when we celebrate Maize Day.

Most national days have a set date they occur each year, like National Gingerbread Cookie Day which occurs annually on November 21st. However, the date for Maize Day changes every year. 

Maize Day falls on the day after Thanksgiving every year, along with Native American Heritage Day and Black Friday. 

This November national day celebrates maize, also known as corn! Keep reading to learn how to celebrate this national food day, and learn the answer to the question “what is the difference between maize and corn?”.

National days of the year are a fun way to celebrate foods, animals and items we come into contact with. Be sure to check out this national days guide for more information about national days and why we celebrate them.

A corn field with two opened corn ears on the right side and a yellow text overlay on the left side that says "Maize Day".

Maize vs corn difference

Maize is a cereal grain which is grown on every continent except Antarctica. While called corn informally, the more precise and formal name for this crop is maize.

In the United States, Canada and Australia it is commonly referred to as corn. However, in other parts of the world the term “corn” can also be used to refer to a broader variety of cereal crops, like wheat and oats. 

However, with context in conversation, the terms corn and maize can be used interchangeably.

How to celebrate Maize Day

The most obvious way to enjoy this national day is to eat maize! There are so many different ways to enjoy this delicious food – the sky is the limit.

You can grill and ear of corn on the barbecue, pop a bowl of popcorn, and incorporate it in soups, casseroles and fresh salsas and more. You can even use corn flour to make delicious baked goods and breads. 

Try the ideas below to celebrate this national day in a fun way:

An illustration of two ears of corn, one mostly peeled, and one half peeled to illustrate the debate of the maize vs corn difference.

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Maize Day is here! Celebrate with delicious maize recipes, and by learning the difference between maize vs corn! 🌽 #MaizeDay Share on X

More November national days

Did you enjoy learning about this national day? You’ll be excited to know that there are over 150 national days in November! Like this one, many of the observances are national food days.

A pile of Indian corn ears in various colors including yellow, red, and multicolored maize.

The day after Thanksgiving gives us so many reasons to celebrate. It is also home to the other national days listed below:

  • Maize Day
  • Native American Heritage Day
  • National Leftovers Day
  • Black Friday
  • Buy Nothing Day
  • Flossing Day
  • National Day of Listening
  • You’re Welcomegiving Day

Make sure to watch our YouTube video to learn about more national food days in November. 

Pin this post on Maize Day for later

Would you like a reminder of this post? Just pin this image to one of your national day boards on Pinterest so that you can easily find it later.

A black plate with three shucked corn cobs on it, and a text overlay in a white box above it that says "Celebrate Maize Day on the day after Thanksgiving".

Jess author photoAbout the author

Since graduating from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Jess has been living and working in Los Angeles, CA. She is a freelance writer, specializing in content related to fashion, food and drink and film industry topics. Find out more about Jess here.

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Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a small commission from the sale, but the price is the same for you. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."