Arron Studholme, three, with his giraffe at the Helena Thompson Museum picnic (Image: Kevin Murphy)
Although there are no records about the exact origin of the day, it is believed to date back to the end of the French Revolution and Victorian era. Taking breaks to eat from hunting is often associated with picnics, dating back to the Middle Ages.
Some of the 150 members of playgroups from Longtown, Brampton, Wigton, Morton and Upperby who attended the annual playgroup picnic at Hammond’s Pond in June 1973 (Image: Newsquest)
In the eighteenth century, the English began referring to outdoor meals as picnics.
The term ‘picnic’ is borrowed from the French term ‘pique-nique’ which means social gathering where people bring their own food and eat together in nature.
The Downagate playgroup picnic in June 1984 (Image: Newsquest)
Picnics became popular across the globe during the French Revolution, as the French elite introduced this tradition to other countries.
It became more popular in France after the French Revolution in the 1800s and in England during the 20th Century. The tradition likely made its way to America through British immigrants during the Victorian era.
Walkers enjoy a picnic on the shores of Loweswater in May 2016 (Image: Newsquest)
A group called The Picnic Society was formed around 1802 and was known for their love of French culture and lavish gatherings with food, gambling, and entertainment.
During the Victorian era, picnics became luxurious affairs, as seen in Mrs Beeton’s menus with a variety of dishes for large gatherings.
Children from the reception class at Frizington Primary School had a teddy bears’ picnic at Ennerdale Scout Camp (Image: Newsquest)
Picnics also had political significance, like the Pan-European Picnic in 1989 which played a great role in reunifying Germany.
France also organised a huge picnic as a celebration for Bastille Day in 2000.
Dakota Dixon at the picnic at Ennerdale Scout Camp (Image: Newsquest)
Contemporary picnics for many people involve simple food. In The Oxford Companion to Food, Alan Davidson offers hard-boiled eggs, sandwiches and pieces of cold chicken as good examples.
Sisters Danielle and Laura Lithgow at Picnic in the Park in Whitehaven (Image: Newsquest)
In America, food writer Walter Levy suggests that ‘a picnic menu might include cold fried chicken, devilled eggs, sandwiches, cakes and sweets, cold sodas, and hot coffee’.
Laura Wilson and son Oliver, two, and Lisa Campbell with daughter Lara, one, enjoying a picnic at Silloth Green (Image: Newsquest)
Various religious denominations host annual church picnics for their congregation and local community. These picnics traditionally take place from August to mid-October when church members and the community socialise over food, conversation and games.
American psychologist and newspaper columnist Dr George W Crane once wrote that Christ held the first church picnic when he asked his disciples to feed the 5,000 who gathered to hear him speak.