International Watermelon Day is celebrated on August 3. On this day, people across the globe celebrate the refreshing and nutritious fruit that has a long history dating back thousands of years to ancient Egypt.
Cultivation of this fruit dates back to 2000 B.C., with the first watermelon harvest on record occurring some 5,000 years ago in Egypt. Traces of watermelon seeds have been discovered on sites of the 12th Egyptian Dynasty, including in the tomb of King Tutankhamen. Paintings of different types of watermelon have also been found in ancient Egyptian inscriptions.
The sweet fruit is the result of mutations over the course of a thousand years of cultivation. Watermelon seeds were sold to traders passing through the trade routes in the Kalahari Desert in Africa. From there, the cultivation of the watermelon spread across Africa. The origin of the progenitor of the watermelon was in Africa, after which it spread into Mediterranean countries and other parts of Europe. By the end of the ninth century, watermelon cultivation became common in China and the rest of Asia.
According to “The Dictionary of American Food and Drink” by John Mariani, the word ‘watermelon’ first appeared in the English dictionary in 1615. The watermelon is commonly known as a type of melon, but it is not in the genus Cucumis.
On International Watermelon Day, people around the world indulge in the delightful variety of watermelons, savoring their sweetness and juicy taste. The day is not just a celebration of a delicious fruit but also an opportunity for people to come together, share knowledge, and revel in nature’s bounty. Every part of the watermelon is edible, including the rind, which packs a punch with its array of nutrients and health-promoting properties.
Watermelon has a water content of 92% and is full of nutrients, vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants. It’s good for slimmers with only 40 de calories a serving. It’s an excellent source of vitamin C and also has traces of A, B6 and B1, and minerals such as potassium and magnesium, It’s fat-free and doesn’t have sodium or chloresterol. It is rich in the antioxidant lycopene, which may help reduce the risk of certain cancers, including lung, stomach, and prostate cancers It’s good for the heart and for people watching their weight.
There are more than 1,200 different types available, coming in different colors and flavors, from traditional pink and red to exotic yellow.
Most watermelons take approximately 85 to 100 days to mature.
Watermelon is both a fruit and a vegetable. It contains seeds for propagation like a fruit, while it is growing and harvested similarly to vegetables from the gourd family.
