National Doughnut Day

National Donut Day is an American food holiday celebrating donuts or doughnuts. It falls on the first Friday in June, although some reputable sources write that the first Saturday in June is also considered part of the celebration.http://www.usc.salvationarmy.org/usc/www_met.nsf/vw-search/773A5B0EB7DCA46086256FCE005F7180?opendocument

Donuts are a snack made from a sweetened dough, usually consisting of flour, sugar, milk, and some sort of fat or shortening ingredient. Some donuts are raised using yeast, while others are made from a yeast-free dough.http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com/lounge/how-to-make-homemade-donuts-2546.html

The origin of National Donut Day lies with the Salvation Army and its volunteer work during World War I. It dates back to 1938 when the organization proposed the day in commemoration of this volunteer work, and to raise funds.http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/06/06/BAEQ181KO9.DTL National Donut Day is generally only popular in the United States, but may be known or publicized by some retailers or food writers outside of the U.S. It is a holiday with a known source, but it is not recognized or endorsed as a national holiday by government.

It seems that donuts existed in the United States prior to the events of World War I, but they were far less ubiquitous and well-known. The explosion in popularity of the doughnut in the United States occurred after World War I, when the huge number of American troops who had come to enjoy the snack staple returned home. The troops even became known as “doughboys”, and the demand for the snack from these returning Americans fueled the mass production of donuts. The relatively low cost of production also assisted the growth in popularity of the snack from the 1920s onward. http://newswise.com/articles/view/542787/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/06/06/BAEQ181KO9.DTL

National Donut Day originated in 1938, when the day was established by the Salvation Army as a way to raise operating funds, as well as to honor the work of World War I volunteers. The day was originally observed by the Chicago branch of the Salvation Army, but soon spread throughout the organization, and further.http://www.collegenews.com/index.php?/article/salvation_army_honors_soldiers_on_national_donut_day_060520091121174/

In August of 1917, with U.S. troops plagued by 36 consecutive days of rain near the front lines, female Salvation Army volunteers wished do something to help the hungry, weary soldiers and raise morale. The female volunteers or “lassies” made the donuts with ingredients on hand, and fried them seven at a time in a soldier’s steel helmet over a stove. The tent providing these donuts became the first 24-hour donut outlet.http://www.usc.salvationarmy.org/usc/www_met.nsf/vw-search/773A5B0EB7DCA46086256FCE005F7180?opendocument

Only 100 donuts were made the first day, but they were so popular and well-received that the activity spread out among the volunteers over a much wider area. Soon 9,000 donuts were being made for the troops each day. In many locations the holes for the donuts were made using shells. Reportedly, some pilots even dropped notes requesting that donuts be provided for their troops.http://www.usc.salvationarmy.org/usc/www_met.nsf/vw-search/773A5B0EB7DCA46086256FCE005F7180?opendocument

It’s easy to celebrate National Donut Day. Many retailers hold giveaways, special events, or special offers on donuts in honor of the day, so look out for online or printable coupons, or deals being offered by bakeries, patisseries, or donut retailers. In some cases the promotions are associated with charity donations to the Salvation Army when donuts are purchased. Among many, though, the historical origins of Donut Day are not well-known.

Even without a special offer or freebies, a trip to a bakery or donut outlet to choose one of the many varieties of filled, glazed, or sprinkled donuts is an appealing prospect to many. Others are more partial to one of the more traditional varieties sprinkled with sugar, cinnamon, or both.

Some food holiday observers enjoy using a food holiday as a reason to create a homemade version of the food involved, and share it with friends and family.

Due to its connection with the Salvation Army and charitable work, some may enjoy making charitable donations or volunteering as part of National Donut Day.

Celebrities, politicians and public figures give recognition and support to the activities of the Salvation Army, even though Donut Day is not officially endorsed by a presidential proclamation or official government pronouncement.