December 18 is National Roast Suckling Pig Day.

From CD Kitchen: National Roast Suckling Pig Day commemorates the suckling pig’s place in some nationalities’ traditional Christmas feasts. These milk-fed piglets are generally slow roasted whole on a spit and served where they are cooked. Plan on a large group, because even a small piggie serves a lot of people!

I know this is some people’s tradition, and I respect that, but that picture completely grosses me out. It reminds me of the fetal pig we had to dissect in junior high school science class.

A  nicer pig-themed holiday is National Pig Day (March 1), the purpose of which is “to accord the pig its rightful, though generally unrecognized, place as one of man’s most intellectual and domesticated animals,” according to Wikipedia.

Here’s a photo of Wilbur the Pig being bottle-fed by his friend Fern in the 1973 animated version of Charlotte’s Web. Would bottle feeding preclude him from becoming a roast suckling pig? I don’t know, but either way he could still be eaten, so his spider friend Charlotte went to great lengths to prevent Wilbur from winding up on a plate.

Speaking of that film, did you know that a lot of Bewitched actors provide voices? Agnes Moorehead (Endora) is the voice of The Goose, and Paul Lynde (Uncle Arthur) is Templeton the Rat. Henry Gibson, who voices Wilbur, played Napoleon and a leprechuan in two different Bewitched episodes. Pamelyn Ferdin, who plays Fern, was on Bewitched in an uncredited role in a first-season episode. Dave Madden and Danny Bonaduce, who voice The Ram and Avery respectively, each appeared in a couple of Bewitched episodes, though they were better known for their regular roles as Reuben and Danny on The Partridge Family.

Debbie Reynolds, who voices Charlotte, was never on Bewitched, which is a pity, because I bet she would have been awesome!

Trailer, Charlotte’s Web (1973)

After watching that, do you still want to eat a roast suckling pig? Well, fine, then have a happy National Roast Suckling Pig Day!