Did you know that Americans eat the equivalent of about 4.31 billion medium-sized movie theater bags of popcorn every year? If you ate one bag per day, it would take you almost 12 million years to finish all that popcorn!
Popcorn is a staple in the U.S. for kids and adults, and it’s not just reserved for watching movies. It deserves recognition for being as tasty as it is — so, when is National Popcorn Day?
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All Hail National Popcorn Day
Popcorn’s national day is Jan. 19. The exact origins aren’t exactly clear, but there is a history of National Popcorn Day that dates back to the 1970s. Through the 1980s, the official date fluctuated from mid-October to the end of January, and the celebration became casually associated with the NFL Super Bowl. In 2003, a newspaper declared January 19 National Popcorn Day, and that’s been the case ever since.
The Ancient History of Popcorn
The rich history of popcorn dates back thousands of years. Archaeological findings show Indigenous peoples in the Americas consumed popcorn long before the European settlers arrived. In 1948, explorers found small heads of Zea mays everta (the only variety of corn that pops) in a west-central New Mexico cave. Some ears date back 4,000 years.
Visiting European explorers like Hernán Cortés noted popcorn’s importance to Indigenous cultures. For instance, in the 16th century, Aztec Indians used popcorn for ceremonies to honor their gods by creating ceremonial necklaces and headdresses made from popped kernels.
In the 19th and 20th centuries, popcorn’s popularity skyrocketed when a candy store owner named Charles Cretors invented the steam-powered popcorn machine in 1893. As a result, stands at fairs and on street corners started popping up. During the Great Depression, popcorn was a luxury food that people could still afford, so movie theater owners started selling the snack to attract customers.
National Popcorn Day Ideas for Celebrating
Don’t let National Popcorn Day pass you by without celebrating! This is your chance to play some fun family games and try new kinds of popcorn flavors.
Activities With Popcorn
Honor the magnificence of popcorn with activities you can do with the whole family:
- Art Projects: Create popcorn necklaces and decorative collages or decorate outside trees with garlands made from plain popcorn and cranberries for the birds and squirrels.
- Science Experiments: Pop a few kernels at a time in an open pot to explore how and why it pops. Then, test popcorn’s density with a “Dancing Popcorn” experiment; you only need popcorn, baking soda, and white vinegar.
- Popcorn Donations: Share the joy of National Popcorn Day with others by preparing and decorating small bags of popcorn to donate to local shelters, schools, or community centers.
- Tasting Parties: Organize a tasting event by asking guests to bring different flavors or recipes to share.
You can also set up popcorn-themed games like relay races and art challenges.
Popcorn Games
Gather all your friends and family together for a “Popcorn Olympics” where you can play a variety of popcorn games.
Popcorn Toss
Label plastic containers with increasing point values and place them in a line, with higher-point buckets placed farther away. Players stand behind a designated line and toss popcorn into the containers in an effort to get the highest score.
Popcorn Toothpick Transfer
Give each player two toothpicks, a bowl of popcorn, and an empty bowl several feet away. Whoever transfers the most popcorn to the empty bowl in one minute using only the toothpicks wins.
Popcorn Guessing Game
Place several different popcorn flavors in bowls and blindfold the players. As the players taste each flavor, they have to guess the seasoning or ingredients.
Delicious Popcorn Ideas
Another National Popcorn Day idea is a tasting party version that involves setting out different Kettle Heroes flavors with other ingredients so guests can build their own party mix. You can start with these:
- Guajillo Chile Lime
- Porcini Truffle Cheddar
- Sweet & Salt Kettle Corn
- Aged White Cheddar
- Cinnamon Sugar Churro
Fun Facts About Popcorn
Popcorn “pops” when you heat up special kinds of dried corn kernels. The heat evaporates the little bit of water still inside, creating pressure and eventually popping the hull, turning the starch and protein into fluffy popcorn. Check out these other cool facts about popcorn:
- Popcorn kernels usually pop up a few millimeters to several centimeters in the air. However, a kernel can fly up to about 3 feet!
- Different varieties of corn can pop in hues besides white and pale yellow. For example, Glass Gem Corn is known for its vibrant colors.
- Indiana currently produces the most popcorn, planting a record of over 97,000 acres in 2021. Together with Nebraska, they grow about 55% of the nation’s popcorn.
- The world’s largest popcorn ball in Sac City, Iowa, measures over 8 feet in diameter and weighs 9,370 pounds!
Celebrate With Kettle Heroes!
Celebrating popcorn is a great opportunity to explore Kettle Hero’s unique popcorn flavors. It’s also an excellent time to gift your favorite popcorn enthusiast with a custom selection in our popcorn variety packs. Happy National Popcorn Day!
FAQs About National Popcorn Day
Have questions about National Popcorn Day? We’ve got you covered.
When is National Popcorn Day?
Official National Popcorn Day is Jan. 19. However, this wasn’t always so — it was previously celebrated on Oct. 24 and then Jan. 31.
How can I celebrate National Popcorn Day?
You can celebrate National Popcorn Day by eating popcorn, of course! Other ways to celebrate include making popcorn crafts, playing games or going to the movies (since popcorn and movies go hand-in-hand!).
Where and when was popcorn first discovered?
The Indigenous peoples of the Americas were the first recorded eaters of popcorn. No one can be sure when the first corn was popped, but researchers found puffed kernels in Peru that are 6,700 years old. Learn more about where popcorn came from on our blog!
