Daniel makes stuff, and, in his spare time, writes about things like movies, kid culture, and geek stuff.
National Day of Donuts

It’s National Donut Day today.

Yes, it may be another ridiculous and far-fetched holiday, but the world is a pretty awesome place and there’s lots of cool things in it that are definitely worth celebrating. So the more holidays the better, I say.

Plus, it’s donuts. Who doesn’t like donuts?

Interestingly, National Donut Day had its origins more than 70 years ago, with the Salvation Army – it was established both as a way to raise money for the Salvation Army and to honor the Army ‘lassies’ who made and served donuts to soldiers during the World Wars.

In August, 1917, fighting raged near Montiers, France, soldiers huddled in camp – hungry, weary and drenched by 36 consecutive days of rain. In a tent near the front lines, Salvation Army lassies made donuts by filling a refuge pail with oil, made dough with left over flour and other ingredients on hand, and used a wine bottle as a rolling pin. With a baking powder tin for a cutter and a camphor-ice suck tube for making the holes, donuts were fried – seven at a time – in soldier’s steel helmets on an 18-inch stove. (Later, a seven-pound shell fitted with a one-pound shell was used to cut out the donut holes.)

Rain fell continuously, and the water-soaked tent finally collapsed. However, the 100 donuts made that first day were an immediate success. Soon, as many as 500 soldiers stood in muck outside the resurrected tent waiting for the sweet taste of donuts and, before long, 9,000 donuts were being made around the dock. The tent became the first 24-hour donut shop.

Word spread and – although the basic recipe for making the donuts greatly varied from unit to unit – before long, Salvation Army lassies were making donuts wherever the war was being fought.

I say that’s a good reason to celebrate. And to make it even more entertaining, here’s the Swedish Chef making donuts:

Jun 05, 2009 :: Tagged under: , , :: #