National Bomb Pop Day is observed annually on the last Thursday of June, which is June 29 this year. It was created at the beginning of a period of patriotic fervour in American history, with its instantly recognisable and iconic colour scheme of red, white, and blue. However, what is a Bomb Pop? It is a rocket-shaped, tricolored frozen confection. Each colour has a distinct flavour, with cherry, lime, and blue raspberry being the original flavours. Given that the frozen treat itself is reminiscent of star-shaped fireworks, the moniker ‘Bomb Pop’ is not particularly puzzling. Due to the red, white, and blue colour scheme, this frozen delicacy is now a Fourth of July staple, so why not stock up at your local convenience store to get the party started? Or, for the ultimate in nostalgia, pursue an ice-cream vehicle and purchase your tricolored treats from it.
The background of National Bomb Pop Day
On July 30, 1955, in Kansas City, Missouri, D.S. Abernethy and James S. Merritt of Merritt Foods invented the Bomb Pop. This invention occurred at the beginning of the Cold conflict between the United States and the Soviet Union (modern-day Russia), when tensions were rising and the two world powers were contemplating a nuclear conflict. It is almost poetic that Abernethy and Merritt came up with a frozen treat to calm tempers across the nation during the prospect of nuclear war. The pop was in the shape of a warhead with six fins, hence the name warhead Pop, and its colour scheme reflected the patriotic spirit of the United States during the Cold War. Its star shape is also reminiscent of rocket pyrotechnics, which is appropriate for Fourth of July celebrations.
Regarding conflict, the Bomb Pop story contains its fair share of controversy. In 1989, Popsicle released the Firecracker Pop as a direct competitor to the Bomb Pop, and the ‘war’ between the two companies continued until 2014.
Merritt Foods was forced to close in 1991, but it was acquired by Well’s Dairy, Iowa, complete with Bomb Pops. Since then, the popularity of the popsicle has only increased, to the point where Well’s Dairy collaborated with Walt Disney in 2003 to produce a “Buzz Lightyear Bomb Pop.”
Modern Bomb Pops appear in a variety of colour combinations and flavours, but the original remains popular. In 2005, in honour of 50 years of Bomb Pops, Bomb Pop Day was established as a national holiday, which we believe was a very interesting move!
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5 FROZEN DELICACIES THAT ARE POPULAR AROUND THE WORLD
This is a tightly compacted ball or cone of ice topped with flavoured syrup and sold by street vendors in India.
Popular in Mexico, this variant of the ice pop is made with fresh summer fruit and honey or agave.
This is a Korean confection consisting of shaved ice topped with red beans and condensed milk.
In Canada, heated maple syrup is poured over a fresh patch of snow, which is then consumed with a stick.
In locations such as Trinidad and Tobago, soursop fruit is blended with milk and condensed milk before being frozen into blocks.
NATIONAL BOMB POP DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | June 30 | Thursday |
| 2023 | June 29 | Thursday |
| 2024 | June 27 | Thursday |
| 2025 | June 26 | Thursday |
| 2026 | June 25 | Thursday |
