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Fruitcake Toss Day

Gather your friends and family for the ultimate Fruitcake Toss Day competition - let the fun begin!

Sunday

January 2027

Last updated February 7, 2026 · by the Holiday Calendar Team

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YEARLY DATEJanuary 3

OBSERVED INUnited States

CATEGORYFun

SUBCATEGORYSilly

INTRO

Introduction

PHOTO

Grab your fruitcake and get ready to toss it on January 3rd for Fruitcake Toss Day! This day is all about getting rid of that unwanted fruitcake with a good old-fashioned game of tossing it as far as you can. But don't worry, this holiday isn't just about getting rid of fruitcakes – it's also about having some fun while doing it! The tradition of throwing away fruitcakes dates back to the early 20th century when people would make them as gifts but no one wanted to eat them. So why not have a little fun and turn this traditional holiday into a friendly competition among friends? Let the games begin!

TIMELINE

Fruitcake Toss Day Timeline

Fruitcake Tradition Begins

Fruitcakes began to gain popularity as holiday gifts during the 1800s, especially in England, starting the tradition of giving and receiving the dense, often unwanted dessert.

Unwanted Fruitcake Plague

By the mid-20th century, fruitcakes had flooded the holiday scene, often remaining uneaten, leading to a surplus of leftover fruitcakes after the holiday season.

First Record of Fruitcake Tossing

Fruitcake Tossing was first documented in 1990 as a fun way to dispose of unwanted fruitcakes from the festive season.

Manitou Springs Fruitcake Toss

The town of Manitou Springs, Colorado, held their first annual Great Fruitcake Toss, turning this quirky disposal method into a community event.

Fruitcake Toss Goes National

The holiday went national, inviting people around the United States to partake in fruitcake tossing games on January 3rd.

GET INVOLVED

How to Celebrate Fruitcake Toss Day

Throw a fruitcake party

Invite your friends over for a fruitcake throwing contest. Have everyone bake their own fruitcake and bring it over for the big event.

MAKE

Make fruitcake ice cream

If you are looking for a sweet treat, try making fruitcake ice cream. You'll need some basic ingredients like heavy cream, sugar, eggs, and of course, some chunks of fruitcake.

HOST

Host a fruitcake bake-off

Gather up your friends and family to compete in a fruitcake baking contest! Set up a judging panel and have everyone vote for their favorite fruitcake.

Go to a fruitcake toss

Check out your local events calendar and see if there is a Fruitcake Toss near you! It's a great way to meet new people and get in on some friendly competition.

TRY

Try a fruitcake smoothie

If you're feeling adventurous, why not try making a fruitcake smoothie? Blend together some frozen berries, yogurt, ice cubes, and pieces of fruitcake for an interesting twist on the classic smoothie.

WHY THIS DAY MATTERS

Why We Love Fruitcake Toss Day

It creates memories

Participating in Fruitcake Toss Day is sure to create fond memories you'll never forget! It's definitely something that everyone in the family can join in on and it's likely to become a yearly tradition you'll look forward to. So grab your fruitcakes and get ready to have some fun - you won't regret it!

Fruitcake Toss Day is fun

Fruitcake Toss Day is an opportunity to get together and have some good ole outdoor fun. Participants can come up with creative ways to compete against each other, such as by seeing who can throw their fruitcake the farthest or into a target. With prizes up for grabs and friendly competition, it's sure to be a hit!

It’s eco-friendly

As much as we all love fruitcake, it's not something that typically gets eaten. Fruitcake Toss Day offers an environmentally-friendly way to dispose of them, rather than throwing them away in landfills or creating other forms of pollution. Plus, it’s a great way to recycle!