- Categories:
- Food & Beverage
- Tags:
- FoodItalian Food
- Where:
- United States
- Date change rule:
- Every January 4
- Holiday emoji:
- 🍝
National Spaghetti Day twirls into our hearts every January 4, inviting everyone to savor the long, delicious strands of this iconic pasta. Whether topped with marinara, carbonara, or a simple aglio e olio, spaghetti offers endless culinary possibilities. Celebrate by cooking your favorite recipe, trying a new restaurant, or sharing a comforting bowl with loved ones.
Want to sponsor National Spaghetti Day? Learn how
Expected National Spaghetti Day Deals
While we wait for official 2027 promotions to drop, history shows that National Spaghetti Day often brings delicious deals from popular Italian-American chains. Expect Olive Garden to offer pasta specials, while Carrabba’s Italian Grill might feature discounted spaghetti dishes. Local pizzerias and Italian restaurants like Buca di Beppo frequently run buy-one-get-one offers or meal deals on their spaghetti entrees. Grocery stores like Kroger and Publix typically have sales on dry pasta, canned tomatoes, and jarred sauces, making it easy to celebrate at home. Even fast-casual spots like Fazoli’s could join in with discounted pasta bowls. We will update this page with confirmed live deals as January 4 approaches.
Platform Guide for National Spaghetti Day
Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #NationalSpaghettiDay. Share mouth-watering photos of your favorite spaghetti creations, from classic marinara to creative new twists.
TikTok
Tag @www.nationaltoday.com and use #NationalSpaghettiDay. Film quick recipe tutorials, ASMR pasta-making videos, or fun challenges like the ‘spaghetti twirl’ technique.
Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #NationalSpaghettiDay. Share your family’s traditional spaghetti recipes or poll friends on their favorite sauce.
National Spaghetti Day Hero
Pellegrino Artusi
History of National Spaghetti Day
Pasta is essentially made with four ingredients — water, eggs, wheat, and salt. The first dish made from pasta was in Sicily, dating back to 1154. According to historians, this recipe was different from the pasta that we know today, which resembled lasagna more. Another significant difference was that it was cooked differently. That being said, there is no evidence of pasta after this, up until the 14th century.
Another element that baffles historians is the exact origin of modern pasta. It is believed to have originated in Italy, but many are of the consensus that Marco Polo was the one to bring it back from his adventures in China, thus making China the original creator of pasta.
Either way, after it made its way to Italy, the locals started making pasta from hard wheat shaped into elongated strands. This is where modern-day spaghetti comes from, although the original was closer to vermicelli in terms of texture.
The word ‘spaghetti’ is derived from the word ‘spago,’ meaning twine or string. Just like in Italy, spaghetti is cooked around the world to “al dente,” which means that it is just soft enough to be bitten into easily, and quite chewy.
Because of the chewy texture that is soft but firm, spaghetti can easily handle tomato sauce. Most spaghetti dishes are tossed in meaty tomato sauce, topped generously with freshly grated parmesan or Romano cheese.
National Spaghetti Day timeline
The oldest recorded documentation of pasta is found in the writings of Roman poet Quintus Horatius Flaccus, referring to sheets of dough called lagana.
Spaghetti production kicks off in Sicily.
The combination of tomato juice and spaghetti is printed for the first time in Italian chef Francesco Leonardi’s cookbook “L’Apicio moderno”.
Spaghetti evolves to a more American style, prepared with basil or oregano.
How Businesses Can Celebrate National Spaghetti Day
Local Italian restaurants and pizzerias can celebrate National Spaghetti Day by offering special discounts on spaghetti dishes, creating unique ‘spaghetti of the day’ specials, or hosting a pasta-making workshop. Grocery stores can feature end-cap displays with spaghetti, sauces, and related ingredients, perhaps offering a bundled meal deal. Even non-food businesses could run a ‘spaghetti code’ themed promotion for tech services or a ‘noodle art’ contest to engage customers creatively.
Spaghetti By The Numbers
19th Century — the decade to which spaghetti in tomato sauce dates back.
13,780 pounds — the amount of pasta that was filled in a swimming pool by a restaurant in Los Angeles.
1.3 million — the number of pounds of spaghetti sold in U.S. stores in 2000.
10-12 inches — the length spaghetti is mostly available in.
600 — the number of shapes pasta is available in.
1,300 — the number of pasta names used around the world.
National Spaghetti Day FAQs
When is National Spaghetti Day?
In 2027, National Spaghetti Day is observed on Monday, January 4. This mid-week observance provides an excellent excuse to enjoy a delicious plate of spaghetti as a hearty start to the work week.
How much spaghetti is consumed annually?
While precise spaghetti-only figures are hard to isolate, the broader pasta market sees consistent growth. In the U.S. alone, annual pasta consumption hovers around 6 billion pounds, demonstrating spaghetti’s enduring popularity as a versatile and beloved dish.
What are the origins of spaghetti?
Spaghetti, derived from the Italian word ‘spago’ meaning ‘thin string,’ has roots dating back to the 12th century in Sicily, where dried pasta was already a local delicacy. This long history underscores its deep cultural significance, evolving into the global comfort food we know today.
Is spaghetti an Italian invention?
The concept of noodles existed in various forms worldwide, but the specific development of spaghetti—thin, cylindrical pasta made from durum wheat and water, designed to hold sauce—is distinctly Italian. Its widespread adoption and diverse regional preparations firmly establish it as a cornerstone of Italian cuisine.
National Spaghetti Day Activities
Throw some spaghetti at the wall
While you're prepping your noodles for dinner, instead of biting into one to see if it's done (ouch, hot!)—try throwing a few cooled strands against the wall. If they stick, they're done!
Host a spaghetti around the world party
Italian, Chinese, even Indian cuisine can play with spaghetti and make the comfort food classic an international show-stopper. Go beyond sauce and meatballs to include nuts, vegetables and spices to take a trip without leaving your house.
Think outside the box
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to make your own spaghetti? You don't need a fancy pasta-maker—a rolling pin and knife might work just as well...or spiralize some carrots and beets to add color to you spaghetti bowl.
5 Facts About Spaghetti That Will Make You Say “Mamma Mia!”
The B.B.C.s' spaghetti prank
As part of April Fools Day, the B.B.C. had a broadcast convincing their audience that spaghetti grows on trees.
Its plural form
Spaghetti is called spaghetto in the plural form.
Forks only
Italians never use a spoon when eating spaghetti.
The secret ingredient
Italian spaghetti is typically made from durum wheat semolina.
Thanks, Thomas Jefferson
He was the first person to bring spaghetti to the U.S.
Why We Love National Spaghetti Day
It's fun
Cut it up, twirl it, pick it up with your fingers, use a fork and spoon...there are just so many ways to get the spaghetti from the plate into your mouth—which means it can be an easy go-to meal for the busy family that is short on time and big on family meals.
It is versatile
A rich, thick tomato sauce, seafood stew, a garlicky-cream sauce, or simply mixed with butter, salt and parmesan cheese—spaghetti is the perfect backdrop for all sorts of toppings and flavors. And then, there is the spaghetti itself, handmade or out of the box, made from durum wheat or brown rice, plain or spinach...we could go on for a while!
When done right, it can be healthy, too (really!)
Look for whole grains and a short ingredient list. Toss with fresh and roasted vegetables, some herbs and a splash of olive oil and you have a tasty meal full of complex carbs and vitamins.
Social Media Tips for National Spaghetti Day
Individuals
Creators
Brands