National Gingersnap Day is celebrated on July 1 every year. The day is celebrated by enjoying this delicious sweet and savory treat. Gingersnaps are cookies made with brown sugar, and an assortment of spices like cloves, ginger, and cinnamon. They are the perfect accompaniment to a lightly brewed cup of tea. Gingersnaps are a healthier alternative to cookies since they are lower in calories. There are also the additional benefits of ginger, cinnamon, and clove whose anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties keep heart diseases at bay. Cinnamon helps to lower the amount of glucose in the bloodstream, ginger aids in digestion, and cloves prevent oral diseases and headaches.
History of National Gingersnap Day
Gingersnaps are known as cookies in some regions, and as biscuits in others. However, in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom gingersnaps are known as ‘ginger nuts.’ The recipe has mostly remained the same in all these places. Gingersnaps enjoy great popularity in the United Kingdom especially. Since the cookies are usually dry and hard to bite, the English prefer dunking them in a hot cup of tea before taking a bite. New Zealanders also prefer having their beloved ginger biscuits with a cup of tea or other hot drinks. The cookies are known as ‘gingersnaps’ mostly in the United States. While most recipes use molasses and brown sugar as sweeteners, some like to add maple syrup to the mix. Garnishing with seeds and nuts makes these cookies even more delectable.
Ginger has been around for a long time now. It is believed that it originated in Maritime Southeast Asia and was likely used first by the Austronesian population. Once they realized that ginger elevates the taste of food, they began to export it throughout the Indo-Pacific borders during the Austronesian expansion, reaching as far as Hawaii. This took place some 5,000 years ago! Ginger is one of the first spices to have been exported from Asia that arrived in Europe with the spice trade. It was widely used by ancient Greeks and Romans. In 2018, the world production of ginger was 2.8 million tons. India was the leading ginger producer, making 32% of the global total.
National Gingersnap Day timeline
Ginger is used as medicine in Ancient China and India.
Ginger beer originates in Yorkshire, England.
The first ginger ale is made in Ireland.
The first gingersnaps are made by monks in Germany.
National Gingersnap Day FAQs
Are gingersnaps healthy for you?
Gingersnaps are a healthier alternative to cookies since they have fewer calories.
Are ginger biscuits good for your stomach?
Yes, the healthy enzymes in ginger can cure minor stomach ailments and also treat nausea.
Will gingersnaps hurt dogs?
Gingersnaps should not be eaten by dogs. Although they aren’t toxic, it’s best not to give them gingersnaps regularly.
National Gingersnap Day Activities
Eat a cookie!
National Gingersnap Day is incomplete without treating yourself to these delicious cookies. Sit down with a cup of tea and enjoy this yummy treat.
Bake gingersnaps
Gingersnaps are quite easy to make once you get the hang of it. Try your hand at these classic sweet and savory cookies, and enjoy them with your family.
Post on social media
Once your gingersnaps are fresh out of the oven, take a few snaps of them for your social media. Use the appropriate hashtags and get your friends to indulge themselves too.
5 Facts About Ginger That Will Blow Your Mind
Ginger has many names
Ginger is also known as ‘gyin’ and ‘khing.’
India is the top producer
India produces 30% of the world’s ginger.
Ginger has medicinal properties
Ginger can be used to treat nausea, stomach ache, and other illnesses.
It is a herb
Ginger might look like a root but it’s actually a herb.
Ginger grows in warm climates
Warm climates and the tropics are conducive to the growth of ginger.
Why We Love National Gingersnap Day
It celebrates a beloved treat
Gingersnaps are popular in many regions of the world. National Gingersnap Day brings gingersnap enthusiasts together to enjoy these delicious treats.
It’s a day to bake
This is a perfect day to take some time out of your busy schedule and bake gingersnap cookies with your friends and family. It can be a great bonding time with your loved ones.
Time to unwind
Since gingersnaps are best enjoyed with a hot cup of tea, you can celebrate National Gingersnap Day as a way to relax and unwind with your favorite treat.
National Gingersnap Day dates
Year | Date | Day |
---|---|---|
2025 | July 1 | Tuesday |
2026 | July 1 | Wednesday |
2027 | July 1 | Thursday |
2028 | July 1 | Saturday |
2029 | July 1 | Sunday |