picnic

A picnic is an outdoor meal where participants eat away from their home, usually in a public or natural setting such as a park, garden, or riverside. It typically involves portable food and drink transported by the participants, often consumed on a blanket or lightweight seating.

The word picnic is derived from the French pique-nique and dates from the 17th or 18th century; the practice grew into a social pastime among the middle and upper classes in Europe and North America during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Common elements include foods that travel well, such as sandwiches, fruit, cheese, pastries, salads, and beverages; participants may bring a basket, blankets, utensils, and trash bags; sometimes picnics use portable grills.

Modern picnics emphasize shared space, clean-up, safety, and respecting local regulations; rules include leaving no trace, disposing of waste, avoiding disruption to other park users, and keeping perishable foods refrigerated or iced.

Picnics are common worldwide, often adapted to local cuisine and settings; in some cases they accompany holidays, sports events, or music festivals.