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WedJul 10

National Pizza Day in Brazil – July 10, 2024

National Pizza Day in Brazil is celebrated on July 10 every year. Sao Paulo is Brazil’s pizza capital because a section of its population is of Italian descent. The ‘oriundi,’ or Italian descendants, in Brazil number around 25 million, and an estimated 10 million live in Sao Paulo. Nearly 25 million pizzas are eaten every month in Sao Paulo. On National Pizza Day in Brazil, pizzerias hold events and restaurants offer discounts. Tourists get the opportunity to taste rare pizzas, including some made with ice cream, chocolate truffles, and even fruit.

History of National Pizza Day in Brazil

Pizza is one of the most popular fast food in the world. The average person consumes around 23 lbs of pizza a year in the U.S. alone. Americans love pizza so much that it gets a 35% increase in orders during Superbowl. In Brazil, pizza is practically a staple food.

Virgil’s “Aeneid” has one of the earliest references to pizza. It describes a thin wheat cake scattered with mushrooms and herbs. The city of Naples is the birthplace of pizza as we know it today. Citizens needed a filling meal they could eat on the go. Vendors hawked pizza in the streets, carrying them in large boxes and cutting slices according to the customer’s needs. These pizzas were made with inexpensive ingredients like garlic, salt, lard, tomatoes, and basil. Food critics scorned pizza, viewing it as peasant food. All that changed in 1889 when Queen Margherita of Italy ate a pizza made with basil, mozzarella, and tomatoes. She liked it so much that it was named ‘pizza Margherita.’

Pizza came to Brazil between 1870 and 1920, when the influx of Italian immigrants was at its peak. Many of these immigrants settled in Sao Paulo, working on the coffee plantations. They brought aspects of their culture with them, including cuisine. Pizza quickly became a hit with the locals, and the market steadily grew over the years. In 1985, residents of Sao Paulo held a contest to choose the best pizza out of 10 options. The event was so successful that on the final day of celebration, residents decided to make it a yearly occurrence. Every year since then, Sao Paulo celebrates National Pizza Day on July 10.

National Pizza Day in Brazil timeline

1905
First Pizzeria in America

Lombardi’s Pizza opens its doors in New York City.

1943
Chicago-Style Pizza

Ike Sewell and Ric Ricardo introduce a ‘deep-dish’ pizza, billing it as a heartier version of the Italian dish.

1958
Pizza Hut Founding

Restaurant chain Pizza Hut begins operations in Wichita, Kansas.

1962
Pineapple on Pizza

Greek immigrant Sam Panopulous invents the Hawaiian pizza in Canada.

National Pizza Day in Brazil FAQs

Who created National Pizza Day?

Gerry Durnell, the publisher of “Pizza Today” magazine, created National Pizza Day in 1984.

Who invented pizza?

Raffaele Esposito is credited with inventing pizza.

What country eats the most pizza?

Italy consumes one million pizzas per year.

National Pizza Day in Brazil Activities

  1. Have a slice of pie

    Order some pizza, and enjoy a slice or two. You can even have the whole pie!

  2. Bake your pizza

    Pizza isn’t hard to prepare. All you need to do is knead some dough, choose your toppings, and pop the pie in the oven.

  3. Host a pizza party

    Invite your friends and neighbors to a pizza party. To spice things up, arrange a little contest to see who bakes the best pizza.

5 Amazing Facts About Pizza

  1. The world loves pizza

    More than five billion pizzas are sold worldwide, each year.

  2. People prefer thin crusts

    Thin-crust pizza is the most popular option worldwide.

  3. World’s most expensive pizza

    The Louis XIII is the world’s most expensive pizza valued at $12,000.

  4. The Pizza Principle

    In New York City, the price of pizza equals the price of a subway ride, a rule observed since the 1960s.

  5. The month of pizza

    93% of Americans eat a slice of pizza at least once a month, so it's no surprise the country has an official pizza month, which is October.

Why We Love National Pizza Day in Brazil

  1. It’s all in the topping

    Pizza contains glutamate, a compound found in cheese, pepperoni, sausage, and tomatoes. Glutamate excites our brains, causing our mouths to water and crave the next bite. Finally, a scientific explanation for why you can’t resist the taste of pizza.

  2. Vegetables go down easier

    Pizza makes vegetables more palatable. Many people are unlikely to eat a lunch of vegetable salad with cheese, mushrooms, and olives, but when you combine these ingredients with the dough and bake them in an oven, they become more appetizing.

  3. It brings us together

    Eating pizza is a communal experience. The slices taste better when you’re sharing them with other people. That’s why it's the ultimate party food.

National Pizza Day in Brazil dates

YearDateDay
2024July 10Wednesday
2025July 10Thursday
2026July 10Friday
2027July 10Saturday
2028July 10Monday

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