National Hot Dog Day

A joyful group of people at a outdoor picnic, each holding a hot dog with various toppings, surrounded by American flags and summer decorations.. — National hot dog day illustration

Bon appetite, fellow hot dog enthusiasts! It's time to suitably celebrate America's favorite handheld feast - the hot dog. We're unwrapping the delicious mystery of National Hot Dog Day, a day brimming with buns, frankfurters, and all manners of tasty toppings.

When is Hot Dog Day?

It's national hot dog day on the 23rd July.

A Sizzling History

Once just a humble sausage, the hot dog has become something of an American icon. But have you ever stopped mid-bite to ponder, 'Who came up with the brilliant idea to create a special day for this culinary delight?' Well, hang tight, for we're plunging deep into the ketchup (or mustard, we don't judge) covered history of National Hot Dog Day.

How it All Started

Our frankfurter-filled story begins with the National Hot Dog and Sausage Council in the US. It was they who decided to give hot dogs their day of glory. The date isn't arbitrary. National Hot Dog Day typically falls on the third Wednesday of July, purposely placed in the middle of National Hot Dog Month. Yes, you read that correctly - there is an entire month dedicated to hot dogs.

The Day That Broke The Internet

Although the internet is always moderately aflame with hot dog aficionados, our data reveals that this gentle flame turned into an absolute fry-fest on July 23, 2015. On that particular day, there were an astounding 61,716 mentions of National Hot Dog Day online. Why, you ask? Perhaps it was a particularly good year for mustard. Alas, the exact reason remains shrouded in delicious mystery.

An Ode to the Hot Dog

If the internet hype is any indication, it's no surprise that National Hot Dog Day is a beloved holiday. After all, the hot dog, with its versatile ability to carry a smorgasbord of toppings and fit nicely into a portable bun, is the superhero of fast food. So, rise up, fellow wiener warriors, and celebrate National Hot Dog Day with relish!

History behind the term 'Hot Dog'

1860

The Start of the Sausage Craze

During the mid-19th century, German immigrants began to arrive in the United States with their love for sausages. These sausages, known as 'frankfurters' or 'wieners,' quickly gained popularity, and vendors started selling them in the streets.

1871

The Birth of the Sausage Term

In 1871, a German immigrant named Charles Feltman opened the first Coney Island hot dog stand in Brooklyn, New York. Feltman started selling hot sausages in rolls, which were easier to eat on-the-go. Feltman's establishment is often credited with popularizing the term 'hot dog' as a term for these sausages.

1901

Hot Dog at the Ballpark

It was at a baseball game in St. Louis, Missouri, that the term 'hot dog' gained significant attention. A local vendor named Chris Von der Ahe began selling sausages on rolls at his stadium. Legend has it that an excited fan yelled, 'They're red-hot! Get your dachshund sausages while they're red-hot!' This phrase was eventually shortened to 'hot dog,' and the term caught on.

1905

Hot Dog's Appearance in Print

In 1905, the term 'hot dog' made its first known appearance in print in the Yale Record, a student publication of Yale University. The term quickly gained popularity, and 'hot dog' became firmly rooted as the name for sausages on rolls.

1915

Hot Dog Goes National

The term 'hot dog' became widely recognized nationally during the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco, held in 1915. A hot dog vendor reportedly sold over 21,000 hot dogs in just one day, putting the term firmly in the American lexicon.