National Noodle Day is on October 6 and we are getting ready to celebrate by doing the best thing possible with noodles… eating them! Can you believe that noodles have been around for over 4,000 years? Noodles are popular all over the world and range in shape from flat, to round, to twisted, to sheets, to tubes, and many more. They can be made from rice, buckwheat, wheat, with or without eggs and even now from zucchini.
History of National Noodle Day
Eating noodles is the easiest way to forklift as many delicious carbs into your mouth at once, making them a national favorite. The term has become a catch-all for all things pasta, spaghetti, macaroni and dorm-friendly ramen, which means there’s a dish out there for everyone, no matter your sauce and topping preferences.
The oldest historical mention of noodles appears in a dictionary from the third century A.D. in China. The earliest noodles, were shaped into little bits, formed from bread dough, and thrown into a wok of boiling water. Unlike other inventions, it’s rather difficult to pinpoint exactly when and where noodles came from given that they relied on the innovation of home cooks.
In Turkey and across central Asia, a dumpling dish evolves into manti, tiny tortellini-like dumplings. Some researchers theorize that Genghis Kahn and his empire that spanned from east Asia to central Europe contributed to the spreading of dumplings. Thus, both the Italians and the Chinese lay claim to inventing the noodle.
Regardless of where the noodle originated one of the most alluring things about noodles is how varied they are. In China, you have chefs that pull the thinnest of noodles called la mian; meanwhile in Italy, you have broad flat paste layered with bolognese and béchamel sauce, better known as lasagna. And both are noodles!
Noodles have been with mankind in nearly every culture, making it one of the planets most widely eaten foods. National Noodle Day sits at the beginning of October which is National Pasta Month, filling this month with a variety of flavors and options to fill a hungry belly.
National Noodle Day timeline
Noodles were invented in China.
Noodles become popular in Europe, especially Italy. Some now credit Marco Polo with bringing them back from China, though he was not the first. Arab traders may have brought them first.
Thomas Jefferson returns to the US after several years in France and brings back two cases of pasta.
Instant ramen was invented in Japan, where it initially was considered a luxury food and was priced at 6x fresh noodles!
National Noodle Day FAQs
Where are the best noodle deals on national noodle day?
Check restaurants that specialize in noodles and have a national presence. Noodles & Co., Bucadi Beppo, and Olive Garden have had great deals in years past.
Is National Noodle Day a real holiday?
National Noodle Day is celebrated across the country and is part of National Noodle Month. While you may not get the day off of work major retailers celebrate it and do you really need an excuse to eat a big bowl of pasta at lunch?
How do you make Noodles at home?
The secret is the dough and depending on the type of noodle there are plenty of recipes out there. Pasta is simple to make and only takes about 30 minutes, you don’t even need a pasta maker to make noodles at home, you can simply cut the dough with a knife or even a cookie-cutter.
How To Celebrate National Noodle Day
Try making your own noodles
Making noodles is not nearly as hard as it seems. Water, flour, salt, and an egg is all you need... mix the dough, roll it out flat then into a 'jellyroll' shape, and cut into strips. Now get to it!
Go out for noodles
As a much simpler alternative to making your own noodles or pasta, go try out that new restaurant that serves noodles. Search for Noodles on Yelp and see where your noodle adventure takes you, whether it is to Italian, Korean, Chinese, American or Japanese, the choices are endless.
Take a noodle-making class
Search out your local cooking school and sign up for pasta making class. You'll learn so much about making noodles and pasta that you'll have spaghetti coming out of your ears.
5 Facts About Instant Ramen That Will Blow Your Mind
It was first a luxury food
Because of its convenience, instant ramen was initially 6 times as expensive as fresh noodles.
Japan invented it
Many Japanese consider instant ramen their contribution to the world and a source of national pride.
China is obsessed with it
Citizens of China consume more than 46 billion packets of ramen each year.
It is super popular in prison
It consistently ranks on the top of lists of food items sold to inmates.
It is even cheaper than you thought
At 13 cents per package, it would only cost about $140 a year to eat ramen noodles for every meal.
Why We Love National Noodle Day
Every culture has its own noodle tradition
Every area of the world has its own traditions and history surrounding noodles. In Italy, in China, in Vietnam, everyone has different techniques and ingredients to make their traditional noodles right.
Noodles can be healthy
If you're health conscious or on a low-carb or no gluten diet, there are still a ton of noodles out there for you! People love noodles so much that they are now made of such things as, black beans, Mung beans, Quinoa, Shikitaki, Kelp, and even zucchini. So don't limit yourself! You can still join in the fun of National Noodle Day.
Noodles are fun
Eating noodles is super fun, whether you eat them with a spoon and a fork, chopsticks or by slurping them up like in "Lady and the Tramp" a noodle date can be a blast with friends or your significant other. Invite your friends out for a noodle night at any place you can get noodles.
National Noodle Day dates
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | October 6 | Sunday |
| 2025 | October 6 | Monday |
| 2026 | October 6 | Tuesday |
| 2027 | October 6 | Wednesday |
| 2028 | October 6 | Friday |
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