Let's face it, most of those national *insert food item here* days are just faux — probably industry created — "holidays."
But hey, with all the deals and freebies, who really cares what they are. A free or an inexpensive meal is always something to celebrate, right?
Well, lovers of a certain dessert, or breakfast, depending on your taste, know that once May is over the first Friday of June brings a delicious celebration.
It's National Donut Day!
SPEAKING OF DEALS: Here’s where you can get free donuts for National Donut Day
But unlike some of those other food days, this one, outside of being absolutely delicious, apparently has some history behind it dating back to the Great Depression and even farther back to World War I.
According to the Salvation Army, National Donut Day was started in Chicago in 1938 as a way to raise funds and aid during the Great Depression. It was also created to honor their female volunteers who set out on a mission to "provide spiritual and emotional support for U.S. soldiers fighting in France during WWI."
"About 250 volunteers traveled overseas and set up small huts located near the front lines where they could give soldiers clothes, supplies and, of course, baked goods," the organization's website reads.
But because conditions were considered too difficult and rations too limited to serve the baked goods, two of the volunteers started frying donuts in the helmets of soldiers, according to the Salvation Army.
The women served coffee and donuts directly to soldiers in the trenches.
"Donuts were not the reason The Salvation Army workers were in the fighting zones," the Salvation Army writes, "they were there primarily to give spiritual aid and comfort to the American soldier and his allies. They were there to be a link with home and family."
Donuts, apparently, just turned out to be a plus.
The Salvation Army said they continued to provide "comfort, care and donuts" to soldiers fighting in World War II and are "honored to continue to serve the men and women who have served our nation."
So there you go, you can enjoy your free donut with a side of history. Does it get any better than that?
Happy National Donut Day!
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