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Get your bacon ready to celebrate National Bacon Day on December 30! This day is dedicated to the delicious and flavorful salted pork belly dish that has been around since ancient times. From breakfast dishes, sandwiches and salads, to desserts like ice cream and chocolate-covered bacon - it doesn't matter how you eat it, just as long as you enjoy every bite of this heavenly food!
Though the holiday was created in 1997 as a way to take a break from celebrating the traditional winter holidays, the consumption of pork dates back thousands of years to 4900 B.C. where the Chinese domesticated pigs and preserved pork bellies with salt. This practice is believed to have made its way to the Romans and Greeks through conquests in the Middle East and by 1500 B.C. had largely impacted both production and preservation of pork in the Roman Empire. Ancient Roman’s early form of bacon, or “petaso,” was pig shoulder broiled with dried figs, browned and served with wine.
The word “bacon” can be traced back to various languages from before the 12th century. Most notably from the French word “bako,” the Germanic “bakkon” and the Old Teutonic word “backe,” all of which specifically refer to the rear of the pig. During the 16th Century, the word “bacoun” was used to refer to any kind of pork. And it wasn’t until the 17th Century that “bacon” was used solely to refer to the salted and smoked pork belly that we know today.
Considering how easy and cheap it was to own pigs, its no wonder during Medieval Times bacon was very common among Anglo-Saxon peasants. Each family and butcher had their own recipe for curing and smoking bacon. The sheer variety of bacon, sausage, and black pudding that you could buy in Victorian England created an almost golden age of pork.
The popular phrase “bring home the bacon” can be traced to the 12 century, in the English town of Dunmow. The church promised to reward a side of bacon to any married man who swore before God and the congregation that he would not quarrel with his wife for a year and a day.
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1500s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Bacon in Renaissance Era</div><div class='timeline-text'>Bacon started to be a significant part of the culinary tradition in European countries such as England during the Renaissance era.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1924</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Oscar Mayer’s Modern Bacon</div><div class='timeline-text'>Oscar Mayer patented the first packed, sliced bacon, transforming bacon from a butcher's specialty into a readily accessible supermarket staple.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1990s</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Bacon Becomes Food Trend</div><div class='timeline-text'>In the late 90s, bacon began experiencing a resurgence, becoming a trend among gourmets, chefs, and foodies alike.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2004</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div the='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Creation of National Bacon Day</div><div class='timeline-text'>Four Hoosier sisters, Danya "D" Goodman and Mrs. Siera sella established National Bacon Day in the United States to be celebrated on December 30th.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2010</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Bacon Explosion Recipe</div><div class='timeline-text'>The Bacon Explosion barbecue recipe went viral, further accentuating the popularity and cultural significance of bacon.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>2013</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Bacon-Flavored Products Craze</div><div class='timeline-text'>The introduction of diverse bacon-infused products like bacon ice cream, bacon toiletries, and even bacon vodka spotlighted bacon's influence and popularity.</div></div></div>
<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Create bacon recipes</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Bacon is a versatile ingredient that can be used in many dishes. Get creative and try out new recipes, such as bacon wrapped shrimp, or bacon mac & cheese.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Host a bacon tasting</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Invite some friends over for a bacon tasting party. Have them sample different types of bacon from around the world and see who can guess the country of origin for each one.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Visit a farm</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Take a trip to a local farm that raises pigs and learn about how they're raised and what goes into producing quality bacon. You'll gain an appreciation of the hard work that goes into raising pigs to create delicious bacon.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Try out novelties</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>There are many novelty items that feature bacon, such as bacon flavored toothpaste, lip balm, and even soap! Try out some of these unique products to get your fix.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Go on a Bacon Crawl</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Take a tour of all the best places in town that serve up delicious dishes featuring bacon. From breakfast spots to dinner restaurants, you'll get to sample some of the best dishes around.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Bacon is delicious </h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>It's hard to deny the deliciousness of bacon. It's salty, savory, and pairs perfectly with almost any meal. Whether it's part of a breakfast sandwich or as a topping on a salad, bacon always adds an amazing flavor that can't be beat!</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Bacon goes well in anything</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Bacon doesn't just have to be served for breakfast, lunch or dinner. You can use it to add flavor to cookies, cupcakes and other desserts. It can even be used in savory dishes like macaroni and cheese and quesadillas for added smoky goodness.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>Bacon supports small farmers & ranchers</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>By purchasing locally-sourced bacon from small farms and ranches, you are doing your part to support small businesses and help the local economy grow. Plus, you know you're getting top quality ingredients that have been raised responsibly and ethically by people who truly care about their animals' welfare!</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Bacon Was Once a Form of Currency</h3><p class='facts-text'>In early Anglo-Saxon times, bacon or "bacoun" was a middle English term used to refer to all pork. It was highly valued, so much so that it was often used as a form of currency for trades and even in offering to monks and priests for their blessings.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Bacon Contains Nutrient Choline, which is Better for Brain Health</h3><p class='facts-text'>Bacon is a source of choline, an essential nutrient needed for healthy brain development. It aids in improving memory and cognitive function.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>Bacon is a Star in Pop Culture</h3><p class='facts-text'>From "bacon mania" in the late 2000s where bacon had its own dedicated events and festivals, to the unforgettable phrase "Bacon is good for me" from a reality show, bacon has influenced memes, catchphrases and cultural references, marking its undeniable impact on pop culture.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>The Name for Bacon Comes from a Germanic Root "Bak,"</h3><p class='facts-text'>"Bak" means back of the pig, which is where some cuts of bacon are sourced. The name ‘bacon’ also references the culinary technique of curing meat that dates to antiquity.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-header'><h3 class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 class='facts-title'>The Longest Bacon on Record was More Than 1 Mile</h3><p class='facts-text'>The longest bacon on record measures 1.8 miles (2.9 kilometers) long. It was achieved by Black Label Bacon (USA) in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, in 2020, entering into the Guinness World Records.</p></div></div>
National Bacon Day is celebrated on December 30 every year. In 2024 National Bacon Day will occur on a Monday.
2023
Dec 30
Saturday
2024
Dec 30
Monday
2025
Dec 30
Tuesday
2026
Dec 30
Wednesday
2027
Dec 30
Thursday
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