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SatSep 7

International Bacon Day – September 7, 2024

International Bacon Day is an unofficial holiday celebrated on the first Saturday in September each year. Even though it is an international observance, the dates vary in some cultures, celebrating on February 19 and the first Saturday of January. Bacon is pork meat that is cured with salt, followed by drying or smoking it. The taste is unlike anything else and a staple in American food.

History of International Bacon Day

Salted pork was first served on the tables of the Chinese thousands of years ago. From there, the practice of curing pork spread throughout the Roman Empire. Bacon fat was also used by Anglo-Saxon peasants for cooking. The term bacon or ‘bacoun’ stems from Middle English, with French and German dialect elements to it. It was used to refer to all pork meat till the 16th Century.

The National Pork Board has labeled Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto as the ‘father of the American Pork Industry.’ Responsible for bringing 13 pigs with him to the New World in 1539, Soto’s herd grew to 700 in three years. The rest, as they say, is history.

Bacon Day, on the other hand, was founded by a group of Colorado-based CU Boulder graduate students in 2004. Students from Bucknell University have their own bacon day celebrations, gorging on as much meat as they can, and calling themselves ‘Meatheads.’ In the U.K., Bacon Day is celebrated some time around January 14, before the winter examinations, as a means of procrastination and fueling for revision.

In the U.S., bacon is the belly of a pig, whereas meat from the pig’s loin is called Canadian bacon. Bacon is smoked using mesquite, hickory, or maple wood, and extra ingredients may be added to further enhance the flavor. Bacon is mostly enjoyed for breakfast, in B.L.T. sandwiches, or simply on its own.

International Bacon Day timeline

12th Century
Bacon Traditions

A church in the English town of Great Dunmow creates a tradition of gifting bacon to married men who could take an oath that he had not argued with his spouse for a year and a day.

16th Century
One for All

The term ‘bacoun’ is used for all pork meat.

18th Century
First Bacon Plant

John Harris opens the first bacon processing plant.

2009
Friend or Foe?

Bacon gets a bad reputation due to its high saturated fat and high sodium content.

International Bacon Day FAQs

Is December 30 National Bacon Day?

Not to be confused with International Bacon Day, National Bacon Day is on December 30.

Is there a National Pig Day?

National Pig Day is observed annually on March 1

What is National Bacon Lovers Day?

National Bacon Lover’s Day is celebrated annually on August 20.

International Bacon Day Activities

  1. Have a cookout

    Pull out your pans and cook some bacon! American-style, Rashers, Irish, Slab, Lardons, and more, try as many types of bacon as you can!

  2. Have a bacon party

    Why try out all the different types of bacon by yourself? What fun is that? Invite your friends and have a full-on bacon party.

  3. Post on social media

    For the love of bacon! Post your favorite bacon-related meal or photos from your gathering with the hashtag #InternationalBaconDay

5 Tasty Facts About Bacon To Chew On

  1. The meaning of bacon

    The word ‘bacon’ means “meat from the back of an animal.”

  2. The Breakfast Club

    In the U.S., 70% of all bacon is eaten at breakfast.

  3. Bacon production

    More than two billion pounds of bacon is produced every year in the U.S.

  4. Bacon is old

    Bacon is one of the oldest preserved foods in the world.

  5. Bacon for making bombs

    During World War II, citizens donated excess bacon fat to the army so they could make bombs using the extracted glycerin.

Why We Love International Bacon Day

  1. We love bacon

    Everyone at National Today loves bacon. Nuff’ said.

  2. Bacon is delicious and a staple in American meals

    We are so used to eating bacon, we don’t realize how deprived we’d be without it! Let’s spread the love for bacon.

  3. The more we know

    International Bacon Day is not only for eating bacon, but to also review our diets and see whether we are having too much of it. Too much of a good thing isn’t the best, even if it is bacon.

International Bacon Day dates

YearDateDay
2022September 3Saturday
2023September 2Saturday
2024September 7Saturday
2025September 6Saturday
2026September 5Saturday

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