National Donut Day is a holiday celebrated in the United States on the first Friday of June every year. It was created by The Salvation Army in 1938 to raise funds for people in need.
National Donut Day is a holiday celebrated in the United States on the first Friday of June every year. It was created by The Salvation Army in 1938 to raise funds for people in need.
The Salvation Army and Donuts
The Salvation Army's connection to donuts began in 1917 when a group of women volunteers traveled to France to help American soldiers. They made donuts with simple ingredients - flour, sugar, milk, and lard - to comfort the soldiers.
Making Donuts
The women volunteers made the donuts by hand, without using any donut cutters or rolling pins. They shaped the dough and fried seven donuts at a time in a soldier's helmet. On the first day, they made only 150 donuts, but on the second day, they made 300. This effort was enough to boost the soldiers' morale.
Donut Lassies
The women volunteers were later called 'Donut Lassies.' When they were fully equipped, they could make 9,000 donuts a day. The donuts became a symbol of The Salvation Army's efforts to boost the morale of American soldiers. Donuts were also distributed to soldiers during World War II (1939-1945) and the Vietnam War (1955-1975).
The Birth of National Donut Day
In 1938, The Salvation Army's Chicago branch organized a fundraising event selling donuts made with the original World War I recipe. The event was so popular that it became an annual tradition and National Donut Day was born.
Celebrating National Donut Day
Today, donut shops in the United States celebrate this fun holiday. Krispy Kreme gives away a free donut to every customer, while Dunkin' Donuts offers a free donut with the purchase of a drink.
Other Donut Holidays
National Donut Day is not the only holiday that donut lovers can celebrate. There's also National Jelly-Filled Donut Day on June 8, National Cream-Filled Donut Day on September 14, and National Donut Appreciation Day on November 5. With so many celebrations, it's no wonder Americans eat 10 billion donuts every year.
Donuts Around the World
Donuts may be an American tradition, but similar sweet treats can be found around the world. In India, there's jalebi, a spiral-shaped sweet soaked in syrup. In Tunisia, people love yoyos, pastries covered in honey. In Indonesia, there's donat kentang, a potato-based sweet covered in powdered sugar. So, no matter where you are, there's a way to celebrate this sweet holiday!
Conclusion
National Donut Day celebrates the story of donuts, which became a symbol of The Salvation Army's efforts to boost the morale of American soldiers. This holiday allows donut lovers to come together and share this delicious treat. Next year, on the first Friday of June, you can celebrate National Donut Day and be a part of the donut-loving community!
