Those who seek an excuse for to surrender in certain delicious Donuts will be thrilled to know that June 3, 2022 is National Donut Day. It makes it your civic duty to eat at least one — maybe a dozen — of the sugary treats. The delightful holiday, celebrated annually on the first Friday in June, is attributed to the Salvation Army.
The non-profit association association with beignets began in 1917 when four female volunteers arrived in France to care for wounded soldiers from the First World War. To raise their spirits, Ensign Margaret Sheldon and Warrant Officer Helen Purviance used the few Ingredients — flour, sugar, lard, baking powder, cinnamonand canned milk—to make doughnuts.
If there are no rolling pins or frying pans, the volunteers had to get Creative. They flattened the dough by hand and baked the donuts – seven at a time – inside a soldier’s helmet. The women worked late into the night, producing one hundred and fifty donuts the first night and three hundred the next. The appetizing aroma fresh donuts brought well-deserved joy to the soldiers, who patiently wait for hours in the cold and wet weather to get their treat.
Once fully crew, the “Donut Lassies”, as they were later called, handed out up to 9,000 donuts a day! The fried dessert has become a symbol Salvation Army efforts to facilitate difficulties American troops. It also served to comfort frontline soldiers in World War II (1939-1945) and the Vietnam War (1955-1975).
In 1938, the Chicago chapter of the Salvation Army set aside a day to sell donuts – made to the original World War I recipe – to general Public. The non-profit organization wanted to raise much needed funds for the poor during the Great Depression. The event was so popular that it became an annual event and National Donut Day was born. Lots of donuts retailers participate in the celebrations by distributing free or at discounted price treaty. Krispy Kreme typically offers a free donut to every customer who enters the store, while Dunkin’ Donuts does the same with a drink purchase.
National Donut Day isn’t the only holiday dedicated to the dessert. Fans of deep-fried treats will also celebrate National Jelly-Filled Donut Day on June 8, National Cream-Filled Donut Day on September 14, and National Donut Appreciation Day on November 5! Given all of these excuses for eating the delicious treat, it’s no surprise that Americans consume 10 billion donuts – about 31 donuts per person – per year!
While donuts are an American tradition, similar sweets can be found all over the world. Indians enjoy a spiral delicacy soaked in sugar syrup called jalebi, while Tunisians devour honey.muffled fried pastries called yoyos. Indonesian kentang donut is prepared with mashed potatoes and coated with in powder sugar. The bottom line? You can celebrate the holiday no matter where you live!
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