National Donut Day
National Donut Day would be celebrated next on June 7th, 2024 .
On the first Friday of June every year, Americans and Canadians gather around to celebrate National Donut Day to celebrate one of their most loved sweet treats-the Donut.
The irresistible taste of donuts has long transcended the borders of America and Canada, spreading its sweet magic across the globe.
Also, if you need an excuse to savor the deliciousness of your favorite donuts, then National Donut Day is the one you can use.
The Rich History Of Donuts
Fried dough balls started doing rounds in Ancient Rome where people fried dough and sprinkled it with sugar, cinnamon or both. Similar recipes spread to other parts of Europe and eventually the rest of the world.
The Spanish and Portuguese Churro, which is a choux pastry dough usually served in a ring shaped, is believed to have its roots in the Roman cuisine or China.
The cookbook “Küchenmeisterei” from 1485 includes a recipe for stuffed fried dough cakes called “Gefüllte Krapfen,” which were sugar-free.
During World War I, The Salvation Army made donuts for soldiers in Europe, as depicted in propaganda posters.
'Olykoek' or oil-y cake were introduced by Dutch settlers to New York in the early 18th century, which bore a closer resemblance to what looked like an early version of donuts, but the ring shape was lacking.
A recipe for fried dough 'nuts' made an appearance in England's “How to make Hertfordshire Cakes, Nuts, and Pincushions” by William Ellis in 1750.
Another similar recipe for “dow nuts” was found in a book from the 1800s from Hertfordshire. It is said that either the 1803 edition of “The Frugal Housewife” was the first cookbook to use the spelling “dough nuts” or “Complete Woman Cook”.
In a book written in 1809 by Washington Irving, “dough-nut” is a type of sweetened fried dough called “oly koeks” that is similar to the oliekoek delicacy.
National Donut Day Origins
During World War I in 1917, the Salvation Army sent a convoy to France to try to find out what the American soldiers on the front lines needed and missed from back home.
This mission showed that the troops were in need of social centers where they could socialize with each other, have their clothes mended, and have food and confectionary from back home.
These centers were built and called “huts”, and female volunteers were present there to serve as “mothers” for the troops.
250 Salvation Army volunteers were then deployed to France to serve in these huts. The social centers were set up in old, abandoned buildings, so the women found it difficult to provide freshly cooked food.
The alternative they found was donuts, which were often fried in oil inside the soldiers' helmets.
These women became known as 'Dough-nut Lassies' or 'Dough-nut Girls' and provided a source of comfort to the soldiers with their baked goods.
The donuts became so popular that on a busy day, the dough-nut girls would fry over 300 donuts.
National Donut Day was first officially observed in 1938 in Chicago, as a way to raise money for the Salvation Army.
This was done as a means to help those who were hit by the Great Depression. It was also a way to honor the bravery and service of The Salvation Army Lassies.
In Chicago, National Donut Day is still celebrated with a fundraiser for The Salvation Army. It even has the support of big donut-selling establishments such as Krispy Kreme and Hurts Donut.
Interesting Facts about Donuts
- Donuts first arrived in America at the hands of Dutch settlers in 1809. Since then, it has been the number-one favorite confectionery across the continent. Over half of Americans claim to love donuts, and they are one of the most popular cakes to bring into the office.
- Every year, an estimated 10 billion donuts are sold in the United States. However, at 1 billion donuts a year, per capita, Canadians eat even more. In fact, Canada has more donut shops per capita than anywhere else in the world!
- The most requested flavor is the simple and original Glazed Donut, followed by Boston Cream and Jelly Filled.
- Krispy Kreme sells the most expensive donuts in the world, amounting to more than 1000 dollars. This donut contained sprinkles of 24-carat gold leaf and edible diamonds as well!
Generally, people tend to go to the established Krispy Kreme, Dunkin' Donuts, or Tim Hortons to get their favorite cake, but independent and handmade donut shops are growing in popularity. Many of these donut stores give away free donuts for National Donut Day as well!
National Donut Day Celebration
On this day, many bakeries and shops offer discounts, promotions as well as free donuts. Thus, it is the perfect day to buy your favorite donuts or try new ones. You can also share them with your family, friends, and co-workers.
You can make donuts at home and host donut-themed parties. Experiment with flavors and toppings to make it more creative.
On National Donut Day, many organizations raise funds for charity as well as honor local heroes for their contribution to society. This includes police officers, firefighters, and so on.
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