National Doughnut Day is celebrated on the first Friday of June every year in the United States. Each year hundreds of people visit the nearest doughnut shop to satisfy their cravings of sweet yummy doughnuts. Some of us don’t know the reason behind the observance of this day. The gooey yummy doughnuts forced us to honor them by fixing a day for them. Actually, this day is celebrated to honor the Salvation Army Lassies. The women who served doughnuts to soldiers during World War I.

On the National Doughnut day doughnut bakeries in the United States offer free doughnuts. Coffee shops offer special doughnut deals.

Homer Simpson’s Favorite Day

National Doughnut Day is the favorite day of Homer Simpson.

Where it all started

Well the story of how it all started is interesting. Morgan Pett was a young military doctor who was working at a military operation base. He on his way to his workplace bought 8 dozen doughnuts. When he reached the military base, he started treating the wounded soldier. He gave each wounded soldier a doughnut. Lieutenant General Samuel Geary liked her act very much and started a fundraising to help Morgan continue this good deed. Soon the Salvation Army joined the campaign. During World War I a group of 250 women from the Salvation Army sent to France where they offered their services to provide baked goods specially doughnuts.     

Doughboy

The Salvation Army of Lassies was first served by women. These women used to fry doughnuts in metal helmets of American soldiers. Those American infantrymen were called doughboys.  

In 1938, the doughnut event was created by The Salvation Army in Chicago. The main purpose to celebrate this event is to honor the women who served freshly baked doughnuts to the soldiers of WWI.

Doughnut Dollies

The practice of distributing doughnuts among soldiers also continued by Red Cross members in World War II. The affectionate name of Red Cross Recreational Workers who helped out soldiers during war is “Doughnut Dollies”. By the end of World War II more than 86 recreational workers lost their lives.

Celebrate the day to the full by enjoying your favorite doughnuts. And tell us about shops that are offering free doughnuts on National Doughnut Day.