National Donut Day

The story

National Donut Day, established in 1938 by The Salvation Army, commemorates the heroic ”Donut Lassies“ of World War I. Deployed to the frontlines in France, these volunteers uplifted soldiers' spirits by frying donuts in army helmets, earning them the affectionate nickname ”Doughnut Dollies.“ The day serves a dual purpose, fundraising for The Salvation Army's causes and honoring the Lassies' service.

The history of the doughnut, or ”olykoeks“ from the Dutch, traces to Manhattan's early days as New Amsterdam. In the mid-19th century, Elizabeth Gregory, a New England mother, added walnuts to ensure her son's doughnut centers cooked through, coining the term ”doughnuts.“ Adolph Levitt's doughnut-making machine in the 1920s and its showcase at the 1934 Chicago World's Fair propelled doughnuts to fame.

The machine's refinement by 1931 marked a turning point, as doughnuts became widely accessible and celebrated as the ”Hit Food of the Century of Progress.“ This evolution, alongside the doughnut's iconic ring shape, has made it a beloved treat, symbolized on National Donut Day by both indulgence and gratitude for the Donut Lassies' enduring legacy.