Celebrate National Bagel Day
- Evan Summers
- Jan 14, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Jan 15
January 15- Exploring the History of National Bagel Day
Bagels have a long and highly documented history that spans from the 1600s with Jewish families of Poland to the famed New York City street food wrapped up in parchment paper in your hands today. Unlike many things introduced to society over five-hundred years ago, bagels have remained relatively unchanged. Sure, there are regional flavors, minor variations in cooking style, and dietary trends that may bring some controversy to the culinary landscape, In addition, flavored cream cheeses and butters (like those created by Now Schmear This!) and unique toppings may have evolved over time but, at its core, a bagel is a beigel is a beygal.
Bagels made the journey to America with the massive Polish-Jewish immigration in the 1800s that firmly entrenched itself in New York City where it thrived. The popularity of this local phenomenon was so strong that a dedicated labor union was created in the early 1900s called Bagel Bakers Local 338 to support the growing, immigrant-led industry. That popularity also inspired the “bagel brunch” (assortment of bagels, lox, cream cheese, capers, tomatoes, and red onions) that we still enjoy to this day with little to no changes.
While bagels were hugely popular in New York City almost immediately, they didn’t gain popularity on a national scale until the mid 20th-century when automation made manufacturing and packaging much more efficient. In addition, advancements in interstate travel and preservation allowed for a broader reach without fear of spoilage. Since then, bagels have taken off to include a variety of flours, toppings, dips and schmears but still remain – by and large – exactly as they were in the 1600s.
And so your morning breakfast was born—a uniquely American mash-up of immigrant ingenuity and traditional Jewish baking. While the bagel you enjoy today with a shmear of cream cheese may bear little resemblance to the original breads produced in Poland by Jewish guildsmen, it has rooted itself so deeply in the culture of America that any attempt to change it in any significant way is met with societal backlash.
Breaking Down the Bagel Timeline
1300's- The First Bagel Appears
The beginnings of the modern bagel can be traced to the Polish obwarzanek, a thin, boiled, then baked ring of dough.
1600's- New Baby, New Bagel
The first known written records about bagels appears in Krakow, Poland which dictated that bagels should be gifted to women soon after childbirth.
1900's- New York Icon
Over this century, the popularity of bagels spread through the growing Eastern European and Jewish-immigrant communities in New York City.
1950's- Bagels Become An American Staple
Bagels are sold in supermarkets across the nation and surpass the donut as an essential breakfast item.
1960's- Automation Changes the Game
Both the bagel maker machine and the bagel slicer were invented and introduced to automate and expedite production.
2020- Celebrating the Humble Bagel
National bagel day becomes a nationally recognized holiday, celebrated throughout the nation with unique events, flavors, and purchase specials. Use #NationalBagelDay to share your favorites and give your favorite bagel shop a shoutout, too!
Quick Stats for National Bagel Day
Fresh, Frozen, Retail, Day-Old?
54% of Americans prefer to eat fresh-baked bagels. While it may be convenient to stock up on store-bought, it’s clear that we have a preference for freshly baked bagels.
Bagel Shop, Bakery, Grocery?
When polled for personal recommendations, Americans vastly prefer getting their bagels directly from their local bagel shop, insisting that the specialty is always better when made in-house. A local baker or diner is viable replacement and buying from the grocery stores falls to a distant 3rd, often relied upon on only when there is no other option available,
Is a bagel a meal?
More than 75% of bagels are eaten as the main dish for whichever meal they may be consumed. It seems that these balls of rolled dough provides sustainable energy for the long haul.
Toasted or Untoasted?
3 out of every 4 Americans like that added heat and crunch of a bagel fresh out of the toaster.
Plain or Schmeared?
With nearly 90 percent of users adding cream cheese, butter, or some kind of topping on it, it’s clear that the people want to personalize their bagel-eating experience.
Celebrate National Bagel Day by Creating New Traditions!
Eat a bagel
Pretty easy! Head to your local bakery and take a big ole bite into a yummy, warm, crispy, doughy, bagel with your favorite toppings!
Bake a bagel
The internet is full of helpful tips and recipes that will start you on the path to be a home baker. There’s nothing that tastes or smells better than freshly baked bagels straight out of the oven. A great activity for you and your loved ones. Be prepared, however, a "real" bagel takes time, patience, and practice.
Give the gift of bagels
Considering that the initial written context of bagels came as a traditional gift for pregnant women, this will go great at any maternity ward! Or, just give one to someone you know who lives bagels.
Have a bagel at every meal
Take this day as an opportunity to appreciate the versatility of the bagel, and feel free to use it as an excuse to try as many flavors as you would like! Experiment with different schmears and revel in the variety you have provided yourself.
Share the love of bagels
What office, classroom, or group of friends doesn't love bagels? Scope out your local bagel shops for exclusive National Bagel Day deals and spring for a dozen delicious bagels to share.
Explore the City and Find Your Favorites
Everyone has their favorite bagel place, so maybe it's time to figure out which one is the best. Maybe each place has its own specialty bagel — be adventurous and try it out!
Revel in the Diversity
It is an easy trap to view bagels as a breakfast item, but how about as a deli sandwich or maybe a pizza bagel? The chewy and dense texture make bagels a perfect vehicle for toppings, spreads, anything else delicious you can think of!
Now that you are a more educated bagel consumer, we hope you share some of these facts with anyone who'll listen and take time today and enjoy one in celebration of National Bagel Day! To make your celebration even more fulfilling, CLICK HERE to search for special deals related to National Bagel Day.
Now Schmear This! is your source for the world's best-tasting compound #butter and flavored #creamcheese. Based in a suburb of Atlanta, Georgia, and an active participant in local festivals and famer's markets, you will be thrilled to know that we ship nationwide so you can treat yourself to our spectacular flavors anytime you like. You'll no longer need to ask the internet, "where can I find the best schmear near me?", because it will be in your own fridge.
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