Food

National Bagelfest Day 2023: Date, History, Facts, Activities

The celebration of National Bagelfest Day began in Mattoon, Illinois. Murray Lender, the proprietor of the Bagel Factory and Lender's Bagels, introduced the concept for the event.

National Bagelfest Day is observed on July 26 to honour the deliciously light and flavorful bread. Yes, some individuals prefer a freshly baked bagel from a bakery to store-bought, mass-produced bread. Bagel is the only type of bread that is boiled before being prepared. National Bagelfest Day is, in fact, centred on these and other interesting truths. You only need an empty stomach, caffeine, and an insatiable desire for bagels.

The background of National Bagelfest Day

The celebration of National Bagelfest Day began in Mattoon, Illinois. Murray Lender, the proprietor of the Bagel Factory and Lender’s Bagels, introduced the concept for the event. In 1986, Murray resolved to host a breakfast for the residents of his hometown in Mattoon. Since then, National Bagelfest Day has been observed to honour bagels and the unique flavours they have introduced to the traditional brunch menu. Today, this event has evolved into a festival with a parade, live music, a Miss Bagelfest Contest, plenty of entertainment, and bagels, of course!

However, before you start feasting on bagels, let’s learn more about their history. Bagels are a type of pastry that originated in Poland’s Jewish communities. They were mentioned for the first time in an official capacity in a 13th-century Arabic cookbook. The global dissemination of bagels was also slow, with the breakfast food not reaching England until the nineteenth century. Polish Jews who had migrated to the region introduced the exquisite bread to the United States. These immigrants subsequently became proprietors of the popular bagel shop Bagel Bakers Local 338. It is also important to observe that the sizes of bagels have grown substantially over time. In 1915, the average bagel weighed three ounces; by 2003, it weighed approximately six ounces.

NATIONAL BAGELFEST DAY ACTIVITIES

Order some bagels

To commemorate the occasion, order bagels for breakfast or tea with your family. Remember to share the images on social media.

Bake a bagel

Make your own delicious bagels by selecting a recipe from the internet. Stream your culinary experience live so that your followers can learn from it.