National Pumpkin Spice Day
About National Pumpkin Spice Day
When is National Pumpkin Spice Day? This holiday is always observed on October 1
In October, pumpkins are on our minds. How can they not be!? They are everywhere you look. And we just love them. We bake pumpkin pie, cookies, fudge, and an endless variety of other pumpkin goodies. However, you can’t make any of these great Fall treats without pumpkin pie spice Accordingly, we recognize the importance of this spice as we celebrate National Pumpkin Spice Day. Also called National Pumpkin Pie Spice Day, this October 1 holiday is a time to express our appreciation for a spice combination that makes so many fall foods and drinks taste fantastic.
Pumpkin pie spice is not a single ingredient. Rather, it is a combination of several spices. And, not all pumpkin pie spice is the same. Manufacturers use similar, yet different combinations and amounts of each individual spice. As a result, there are many recipe variations. Some people can distinguish the differences. yet others can’t. The typical ingredients are cinnamon, ginger, allspice, nutmeg, cloves, and mace.
During the Fall, we can’t get enough of it. Are you ready to celebrate this food holiday? Then, sit down with a pumpkin latte, or a pumpkin beer, and think about how much you love the flavor of this spice. It brings to mind Fall festivals, colorful leaves, and chilly nights by the fireside.
How Pumpkin Pie Spice Emerged
Originally, both commercial and home bakers kept individual jars of each ingredient on their spice racks. Then, when they made a pumpkin pie, they measured out each ingredient separately. This was fine for commercial bakers and avid home bakers. But, many casual home bakers didn’t use all that much of each ingredient. In 1934, someone at McCormick & Company had a brilliant idea. They put all of the pumpkin pie spice ingredients into one jar, making it easier for all bakers, both commercially and at home. It was a big hit.
Over time, many pumpkin recipes emerged, calling for pumpkin spice. Now, there’s everything imaginable, including pumpkin bread, pie, cookies, fudge, pudding, cake, and so much more. In 2003, Starbucks came out with Pumpkin Spice Latte. We began to put it into our beer, tea, cider, and other drinks. And, let’s not forget the tasty and refreshing pumpkin milkshake.
Pumpkin spice, and products that contain it, hit the market annually, beginning each year in August. Consumption hits its peak every year during Halloween and Thanksgiving. Then, pumpkin lattes and all of our favorite Fall drinks and baked goods give way to peppermint Latte and countless Christmas holiday goodies.
Pumpkin Pie Spice Trivia and Fun Facts
Here are some interesting pumpkin spice trivia to review as you drink that tasty pumpkin latte or beer:
- Pumpkin Spice and Pumpkin Pie Spice are one and the same thing.
- Every year, Americans consume over $600 million of pumpkin lattes. Most of it is consumed in the Fall.
- We consume over 50 million pumpkin pies each Thanksgiving.
- Historians believe pumpkins were on the menu at the first Thanksgiving in 1621. But, it wasn’t pumpkin pie. Native Americans usually boiled and baked pumpkins.
How to Celebrate National Pumpkin Spice Day
National Pumpkin Spice Day is a great day to experiment and use your imagination. The fundamental question is what will go well with a little (or a lot) of this spice in or on it? You will find that there are quite a few ways to use it. Here are just a few of them:
- Make a pumpkin pie.
- Meet some friends at a coffee shop. Order a round of pumpkin lattes.
- Hold a taste test. Try each manufacturer’s brand of this spice.
- Make it at home using your own combination of spices.
- Have you ever tried a pumpkin milkshake? If not, what are you waiting for!?
- Shake a little on some fresh, homemade applesauce. Try it on other foods, too.
- Try a new pumpkin recipe that you’ve never tried before. Make sure it uses your favorite seasonal spice.
- Bake two loaves of pumpkin bread. Then, give one of them to a neighbor or friend.
- Make pumpkin cookies or another treat that uses this spice. Then, bring them to work to share with your co-workers.
Today's Quotes
“I never met a pumpkin I didn’t like.” – – Jack O. Lantern
“Let’s be honest: you can’t celebrate fall without it’s leading role – pumpkin! You can incorporate this flavor of the season in so many ways, from candles to lattes, pies to decorations.” – – Rachel Hollis
History and Origin of National Pumpkin Spice Day
Our research did not find the creator or the origin of this day. Perhaps it was a food manufacturer who markets this spice. Or, it might be someone just like you and me who enjoys pumpkin spice “Anything” at this time of the year.
Almost all food-related holidays and special days are referred to as “National”. I guess we Americans like our food…and it shows.
We did not find any documentation confirming this to be a true “National” day. There are no congressional records or presidential proclamations.
Definition of “National” Days – and why it is so important to distinguish and identify true national days.
This Day in History
In addition to the National Pumpkin Spice Day, here are some things that happened on this day:
- John Philip Sousa becomes the Director of the US Marine Corps Band. (1880)
- Walt Disney World opens in Orlando, Florida. (1971)
- Actor Tom Bosley was born on this day in (1927)
Related Holidays
People who like National Pumpkin Spice Day will also like:
Pumpkin Holidays – Much more pumpkin fun.
More October 1 Holidays
Here are more October 1 holidays for you to enjoy:
International Coffee Day – This October holiday can give you the jitters.
More About Today
Recipe of the Day: Pumpkin Spice – Why buy it? Make your own.
Also See: Pumpkin Recipes Galore and Holiday Recipes and Halloween Recipes
Pumpkin Nook – Visit the folks that know everything about pumpkins. Halloween, too.
Ecards Send a free Ecard daily for just about any October calendar holiday, occasion, observance, or event. Or, just for the fun of it!
Holiday Insights, where every day in October is a holiday, a bizarre or wacky day, an observance, or a special event. Join us in the daily calendar fun each and every day of the year.
Did You Know? There are literally thousands of daily holidays, special events, and observances, more than one for every day of the year. Many of these holidays are new. People and organizations are creating new holidays regularly. October holidays are no exception. Consequently., at Holiday Insights, we take great efforts to thoroughly research and document the details of each one, as completely and accurately as possible.