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National Eat Your Jello Day

Celebrate National Eat Your Jello Day with fruity flavors and creative recipes - it's a day of deliciousness!

Sunday

July 2026

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

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YEARLY DATEJuly 12

OBSERVED INUnited States

CATEGORYFood

SUBCATEGORYDesserts

INTRO

Introduction

PHOTO

It's time to get jiggly with it on July 12 and celebrate National Eat Your Jello Day! Jello has been around for over 100 years and was invented in 1897 by Pearle Wait, an American carpenter. It quickly became a popular dessert enjoyed all over the world. Now this holiday is the perfect excuse to indulge in your favorite flavor of Jello. Whether you prefer classic strawberry or something more exotic like guava, it's time to break out the spoons and start slurping up some deliciousness!

TIMELINE

National Eat Your Jello Day Timeline

Jello Invention

American carpenter and cough syrup manufacturer, Pearle Wait invents Jello while experimenting with gelatin and fruit flavors.

Jello Purchase

The Genesee Pure Food Company purchases the rights to Jello from Pearle Wait for a mere $450.

First Jello Advertisement

The first Jello advertisement appears in Ladies' Home Journal describing Jello as "America's Most Famous Dessert".

Company Name Change

The Genesee Pure Food Company officially changes its name to Jell-O Company.

First Jello Celebrity Endorsement

Comedian and actor Jack Benny becomes the first major celebrity to endorse Jello on his radio show.

Jello Popularity Peaks

Jello reaches its peak popularity in the United States, with a market study revealing that is the nation's favorite dessert.

GET INVOLVED

How to Celebrate National Eat Your Jello Day

Make your own jello

Making jello is a lot easier than you think. All you need is jello mix, boiling water, and a cool place to set it. Once it's cooled and set, you can add fruits and other flavors to your jello for a unique treat.

BAKE

Bake with jello

Jello can be used in many different ways while baking. Try adding it to cake mixes, cupcakes, muffins or even cookies. Get creative and mix different flavors together to make some truly delicious treats.

FROST

Frost cupcakes with jello

Using jello as a frosting can be a great way to add flavor and color to cupcakes. Make sure the jello is cooled and thick enough to spread, then get creative with different colors and flavors.

CREATE

Create a jello art project

Jello isn't just for eating, it can be used for art projects as well. Use different colors of jello to create unique shapes and forms in a baking dish or on a sheet of wax paper.

HAVE

Have a jello eating contest

What better way to celebrate National Eat Your Jello Day than with an old fashioned jello eating contest? Get your friends together and see who can eat the most jello in one sitting.

WHY THIS DAY MATTERS

Why We Love National Eat Your Jello Day

It’s easy & affordable

Jello is incredibly easy to make and requires very few ingredients. Plus, it's super affordable, so you can stock up on all your favorite flavors without breaking the bank!

Jello is delicious

Jello is the perfect treat to satisfy your sweet tooth. It's delightfully cool and comes in a variety of delicious flavors that are sure to make your mouth water. Whether you like classic strawberry, tropical mango or zesty lime, there's something for everyone!

The possibilities are endless

With Jello, the possibilities are truly endless. You can mix it with cream cheese for a tangy dip, combine it with fruit for a fresh and fruity dessert, or even use it as an ingredient in other recipes such as cake frosting or smoothies.