History of National Cuban Sandwich Day August 23rd, 2022

Does any sandwich fill the soul with joy quite like a Cuban sandwich? Probably not. While most people will enjoy the tasty treat on a semi-frequent basis, National Cuban Sandwich Day is the perfect time for hungry participants to show the humble yet heroic creation the love and attention it deserves – and there’s a lot of reasons to love it.

The Cuban sandwich is truly one of those magical foods that can be enjoyed by anyone (dietary needs aside) at anytime. Whether it’s a budget-friendly lunchtime meal for laborers or an evening treat for a business owner doesn’t matter, there’s never a bad time to enjoy the sandwich. However, there is a best time to appreciate it, and that’s National Cuban Sandwich Day.

Want to know more? Let’s tuck in.

History of National Cuban Sandwich Day

National Cuban Sandwich Day is a day to celebrate the traditional pressed Cuban sandwich and its many variants, which have spread from Tampa, Florida’s Ybor City neighborhood to restaurant menus in all corners of the world.

The Cuban sandwich is a history lesson pressed between two pieces of bread. Perhaps no other food represents the United States’ history as a melting pot at the turn of the century better than the Cubano, which combines elements from three different immigrant groups that came together, surprisingly, in the deep south. Also, it’s delicious!

A traditional Cuban sandwich consists of ham, mojo pork, Genoa salami, Swiss cheese, yellow mustard, and dill pickle slices on crispy-but-not-too-chewy Cuban bread, all heated in a press, though National Cuban Sandwich Day celebrates all variations.

Cuban sandwich fun fact

While an early cousin of the Cuban sandwich was born in Cuba proper, the Cuban sandwich as we know it today originated in Tampa, Florida’s cigar-producing neighborhood of Ybor City in the late 1800s (then known as Cigar City, the “cigar capital of the world”) and caught on by the early 1900s. It was popular among workers in the district’s many cigar factories.

While it’s called a “Cuban” sandwich after the Cuban immigrants who settled in early Ybor City and influenced the sandwich the most, the ingredients are also a nod to the southern Italian bricklayers and the German cigar workers who also immigrated there. Salami was added via the Italian bricklayers, who found that placing a hot brick on top of the sandwich for a few minutes pressed it flat and made it taste better. Mustard was a condiment and flavor preferred by the Germans.

It also didn’t spoil in the Florida heat. That’s why there’s no mayonnaise on a traditional Cuban sandwich–refrigeration was scarce in tropical Tampa in the early 20th century.

History of National Cuban Sandwich Day

The Cuban sandwich itself has a rich history that dates back to the 19th century, but the beautifully brilliant sandwich continues to witness evolution in many different forms. National Cuban Sandwich Day is a far more contemporary idea that was borne from online interactions. In fact, somewhat incredibly, the event was actually launched in 2016 as a joke by Christopher Spata of the Tampa Bay Times, who wanted to see how many news agencies would run with the story of a fictional food celebration.

It turns out that the answer was quite a lot. It’s not that shocking really given that the “prank” wasn’t actually funny. Still, fans of the sandwich from around the globe can thank Spata’s idea for what has quickly turned into a widely celebrated annual event. Very much like the sandwich itself, National Cuban Sandwich Day has found its way to followers from around the globe and is on a trajectory to gain thousands of new fans each year.

National Cuban Sandwich Day actually follows the success of another event (yes, great food deserves more than one dedication throughout the year) that has been held in Tampa every year since 2012: the Cuban Sandwich Festival. The food festival, which was organized by Victor Padilla and Jolie Gonzalez-Padilla, hosts a competition between local vendors and restaurants to name the Best Cuban Sandwich of the Year. In its inaugural event, the organizers also built the World’s Longest Cuban Sandwich.

A number of neighborhoods in the regions synonymous with Cuban sandwiches have subsequently held public celebrations while restaurants and cafes are naturally very quick to embrace the fun. However, thanks to online viral content, the annual honoring of the firm foodie’s favorite has reached many new audiences in its first half-a-decade.

LABOR DAY 

Observed the first Monday in September, Labor Day is an annual celebration of the social and economic achievements of American workers. The holiday is rooted in the late nineteenth century, when labor activists pushed for a federal holiday to recognize the many contributions workers have made to America’s strength, prosperity, and well-being.

Early Adopters

Before it was a federal holiday, Labor Day was recognized by labor activists and individual states. After municipal ordinances were passed in 1885 and 1886, a movement developed to secure state legislation. New York was the first state to introduce a bill, but Oregon was the first to pass a law recognizing Labor Day, on February 21, 1887. During 1887, four more states – Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York – passed laws creating a Labor Day holiday. By the end of the decade Connecticut, Nebraska and Pennsylvania had followed suit. By 1894, 23 more states had adopted the holiday, and on June 28, 1894, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday.

Before it was a federal holiday, Labor Day was recognized by labor activists and individual states. After municipal ordinances were passed in 1885 and 1886, a movement developed to secure state legislation. New York was the first state to introduce a bill, but Oregon was the first to pass a law recognizing Labor Day, on February 21, 1887. During 1887, four more states – Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York – passed laws creating a Labor Day holiday. By the end of the decade Connecticut, Nebraska and Pennsylvania had followed suit. By 1894, 23 more states had adopted the holiday, and on June 28, 1894, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday.

McGuire v. Maguire: Who Founded Labor Day?

Who first proposed the holiday for workers? It’s not entirely clear, but two workers can make a solid claim to the Founder of Labor Day title.

Some records show that in 1882, Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, suggested setting aside a day for a "general holiday for the laboring classes" to honor those "who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold."

But Peter McGuire's place in Labor Day history has not gone unchallenged. Many believe that machinist Matthew Maguire, not Peter McGuire, founded the holiday.

Recent research seems to support the contention that Matthew Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, New Jersey, proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York.

According to the New Jersey Historical Society, after President Cleveland signed the law creating a national Labor Day, the Paterson Morning Call published an opinion piece stating that "the souvenir pen should go to Alderman Matthew Maguire of this city, who is the undisputed author of Labor Day as a holiday." Both Maguire and McGuire attended the country’s first Labor Day parade in New York City that year.

Before it was a federal holiday, Labor Day was recognized by labor activists and individual states. After municipal ordinances were passed in 1885 and 1886, a movement developed to secure state legislation. New York was the first state to introduce a bill, but Oregon was the first to pass a law recognizing Labor Day, on February 21, 1887. During 1887, four more states – Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York – passed laws creating a Labor Day holiday. By the end of the decade Connecticut, Nebraska and Pennsylvania had followed suit. By 1894, 23 more states had adopted the holiday, and on June 28, 1894, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday.

McGuire v. Maguire: Who Founded Labor Day?

Who first proposed the holiday for workers? It’s not entirely clear, but two workers can make a solid claim to the Founder of Labor Day title.

Some records show that in 1882, Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, suggested setting aside a day for a "general holiday for the laboring classes" to honor those "who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold."

But Peter McGuire's place in Labor Day history has not gone unchallenged. Many believe that machinist Matthew Maguire, not Peter McGuire, founded the holiday.

Recent research seems to support the contention that Matthew Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, New Jersey, proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York.

According to the New Jersey Historical Society, after President Cleveland signed the law creating a national Labor Day, the Paterson Morning Call published an opinion piece stating that "the souvenir pen should go to Alderman Matthew Maguire of this city, who is the undisputed author of Labor Day as a holiday." Both Maguire and McGuire attended the country’s first Labor Day parade in New York City that year.

Before it was a federal holiday, Labor Day was recognized by labor activists and individual states. After municipal ordinances were passed in 1885 and 1886, a movement developed to secure state legislation. New York was the first state to introduce a bill, but Oregon was the first to pass a law recognizing Labor Day, on February 21, 1887. During 1887, four more states – Colorado, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York – passed laws creating a Labor Day holiday. By the end of the decade Connecticut, Nebraska and Pennsylvania had followed suit. By 1894, 23 more states had adopted the holiday, and on June 28, 1894, Congress passed an act making the first Monday in September of each year a legal holiday.

McGuire v. Maguire: Who Founded Labor Day?

Who first proposed the holiday for workers? It’s not entirely clear, but two workers can make a solid claim to the Founder of Labor Day title.

Some records show that in 1882, Peter J. McGuire, general secretary of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and a co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, suggested setting aside a day for a "general holiday for the laboring classes" to honor those "who from rude nature have delved and carved all the grandeur we behold."

But Peter McGuire's place in Labor Day history has not gone unchallenged. Many believe that machinist Matthew Maguire, not Peter McGuire, founded the holiday.

Recent research seems to support the contention that Matthew Maguire, later the secretary of Local 344 of the International Association of Machinists in Paterson, New Jersey, proposed the holiday in 1882 while serving as secretary of the Central Labor Union in New York.

According to the New Jersey Historical Society, after President Cleveland signed the law creating a national Labor Day, the Paterson Morning Call published an opinion piece stating that "the souvenir pen should go to Alderman Matthew Maguire of this city, who is the undisputed author of Labor Day as a holiday." Both Maguire and McGuire attended the country’s first Labor Day parade in New York City that year.

The First Labor Day

The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. The Central Labor Union held its second Labor Day holiday just a year later, on September 5, 1883.

By 1894, 23 more states had adopted the holiday, and on June 28, 1894, President Grover Cleveland signed a law making the first Monday in September of each year a national holiday.

A Nationwide Holiday

Many Americans celebrate Labor Day with parades, picnics and parties – festivities very similar to those outlined by the first proposal for a holiday, which suggested that the day should be observed with – a street parade to exhibit "the strength and esprit de corps of the trade and labor organizations" of the community, followed by a festival for the recreation and amusement of the workers and their families. This became the pattern for the celebrations of Labor Day.

Speeches by prominent men and women were introduced later, as more emphasis was placed upon the economic and civic significance of the holiday. Still later, by a resolution of the American Federation of Labor convention of 1909, the Sunday preceding Labor Day was adopted as Labor Sunday and dedicated to the spiritual and educational aspects of the labor movement.

American labor has raised the nation’s standard of living and contributed to the greatest production the world has ever known and the labor movement has brought us closer to the realization of our traditional ideals of economic and political democracy. It is appropriate, therefore, that the nation pays tribute on Labor Day to the creator of so much of the nation's strength, freedom, and leadership – the American worker.

Here's a list of 2022 National Taco Day deals and specials for your reference:

- 7-Eleven - On October 4, 2022, 7Rewards and Speedy Rewards members can get 10 mini tacos for $2.

- Del Taco - On October 4, 2022, they have they Tuesday special of 3 Snack Tacos for $1.69 from 3 PM to 11 PM but Del Yeah! rewards members can also earn double rewards all day in the app.

- El Pollo Loco - On October 4, 2022, Loco Rewards members who buy $10 or more of anything on the El Pollo Loco menu other than tacos will get a reward good for 8 free tacos in their loyalty account that can be redeemed between October 5 and October 31, 2022. They'll also be offering free delivery on the same day for orders placed through their website or mobile app.

Fuzzy's Taco Shop - On October 4, 2022, you can get select tacos for $1.50 each all day.

- Jack in the Box - On October 4, 2022, Monster Tacos return to the menu for a limited time. You can get two for $3 at participating locations.

- Long John Silver's - On October 4, 2022, you can a free taco with the purchase of any combo, meal, or platter in-store and online for pickup (you can find the necessary coupon through their email subscription or social media channels. If ordering online, you'll need to use the code, "NATIONALTACODAY").

Moe's Southwest Grill - On October 4, 2022, Moe Rewards Members can get $5 off any meal kit, including the Taco Meal Kit using the promo code "TACODAY22" online.

- Rubio's - On October 3 and October 4, 2022, you can get a free taco with any purchase.

- Taco Bell - On October 4, 2022, you can get a 30-day Taco Lover's Pass for $10.

- Taco John's - On October 4, 2022, loyalty members can get a free beef Taco Bravo with any purchase.

As a Bar Time treats or while watching a Wisconsin football game you can not beat fried cheese curds. 

Today’s Food History

1753 Jean Jacques Regis de Cambaceres was born. A French politician and gourmet. A gastronomic contemporary and rival of Talleyrand and Carême. The dinners he gave were famous, and Cambaceres closely supervised the food preparation. He refused to admit late-comers, and was also said to have demanded complete silence while dining.

1871 Charles Babbage died. He invented the adding machine, and among his other inventions is the cowcatcher, the V shaped front end on locomotives.

1878 Thomas Edison made electricity available for household usage.

1892 The first long distance telephone line between Chicago and New York City was put in service.

1919 William Waldorf Astor Born. William Waldorf Astor was a cousin of John Jacob Astor IV, the great grandson of John Jacob Astor. He built the Waldorf section (1893) of what would become the Waldorf Astoria (1897). The Empire State Building (1929) now stands on the site.

1931 Thomas Alva Edison, “the wizard of Menlo Park” died.

1945 James T. Ehler, Chef and food writer, was born. That’s me – the author of this Culinary Calendar and the Food Reference Website.

1969 Cyclamate, a non-caloric sweetener, was banned. Discovered in 1937, and widely used in the food industry, cyclamate was found to cause cancer in laboratory rats. Cyclamate is still used in many countries around the world.

National Brandied Fruit Day

National Brandied Fruit Day

On October 20th every year, National Brandied Fruit Day is celebrated in the US and is mainly celebrated by those people who are fruit lovers

NATIONAL BRANDIED FRUIT DAY

On October 20th each year, we celebrate the delicious food holiday known as National Brandied Fruit Day!

#BrandiedFruitDay

Brandied fruit first became popular around the Victorian era. During this time, people discovered brandy added to fruit easily helped preserve it. Incidentally, the process also preserved the flavor of freshly harvests fruit crops while also creating a delicious dessert for adults.

Brandied fruit is created by soaking sweet fresh fruit in brandy, sugar, and spices. After the initial preparation, the fruit will sit for nearly 30 days. Then it is ready to top desserts, pies, and cakes. Interestingly, brandied fruit is used as a starter for Friendship Cake. Similar to the concept of a starter for sourdough bread, Friendship Cake takes time to prepare. However, once you’ve completed the process, you’re sure to enjoy one of the most delicious treats ever!

 NATIONAL PUMPKIN CHEESECAKE DAY

This sweet dessert mixes fresh soft cheese, cream cheese or cottage cheese, eggs, and sugar to create a base. The crust is made from crushed graham crackers, crushed cookies, pastry, or sponge cake. Pumpkin may be added to cheesecake recipes in various ways. For example, it may be swirled throughout, mixed thoroughly with all ingredients, or layered. Bakers prepare cheesecakes both baked or unbaked. Some bakers flavor cheesecakes and top them with fruit, fruit sauce, chocolate, or whipped cream.

Here are today’s five thing to know about Cheesecake:

1. Pennsylvania Dutch-style cheesecake uses a slightly tangy type of cheese with larger curds and less water content, called pot or farmer’s cheese.
2. Philadelphia-style cheesecake is lighter in texture, yet richer in flavor than New York style cheesecake.
3. Farmer’s cheese cheesecake is the contemporary implementation for the traditional use of baking to preserve fresh cheese and is often baked in a cake form along with fresh fruit like a tart.
4. Country-style cheesecake uses buttermilk to produce a firm texture while decreasing the pH (increasing acidity) to extend shelf life.
5. Lactose free cheesecake may be made either with lactose-free cream cheese or as an imitation using Vegan recipes combining non-dairy cream cheese alternatives with other lactose-free ingredients.

Today’s Food History

• 1422 Charles VI of France died. It was during Charles VI rule that Taillevent was made Master of the King’s kitchens. Charles VI also gave sole rights for the aging of Roquefort cheese to the village of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon, and all Roquefort must still be aged in the caves there today.
• 1449 George Plantagenet, duke of Clarence was born. Brother of Edward IV whom he was accused of plotting against. He was thrown into prison and secretly executed in the Tower of London. The rumor is that he was drowned in a butt (large cask) of malmsey wine.
• 1879 Thomas Edison demonstrated the first commercially practical light bulb at his laboratory in Menlo Park, New Jersey.
• 1990 Tom Carvel died. He was the inventor of the soft-serve ice cream machine, and founder of the Carvel ice cream chain.

NATIONAL BOLOGNA DAY

Each year on October 24th, people across the nation make a sandwich to participate in National Bologna Day.  This would be a good day to have a bologna sandwich for lunch.

#NationalBolognaDay

Sometimes this specialty meat is spelled baloney since that’s how many people pronounce it. However, the more common spelling is Bologna. That’s because it originated in the city of Bologna, Italy. This type of sausage is similar to the Italian mortadella. The finely ground pork or beef sausage or a combination is smoked and cured. In Italy, bologna includes a variety of spices not found in American bologna. In fact, in the United States, regulations require American bologna to be finely ground and without visible lard pieces. It hardly resembles anything found in Italy. It can also be made from chicken, turkey, venison, or soy protein. 

Many people enjoy bologna sandwiches with a variety of garnishes. Some of those include mustard, ketchup, mayonnaise, cheese, lettuce, pickles, tomato, and onion.

• German Bologna
• Kosher or halal bologna
• Lebanon bologna
• Lauantaimakkara
• Rag bologna
• South African polony
• Vegetarian 

HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL BOLOGNA DAY

Pick out your favorite bologna. Make a sandwich or two. Share with us your favorite toppings, too! Do you toast your bread? Before you take a bite, take a picture to share. Also, if you have a favorite deli serving bologna, give them a shout out!

Celebrate by trying something new and enjoy these bologna recipes:

Fried Bologna Casserole
Various Bologna Recipes
Fried Bologna, Egg on Challah Bread with an American Cheese Rarebit Sauce
Big Daddy’s Prize-Winning Bologna Sandwich
Barbecued Bologna

Use #NationalBolognaDay to post on social media.

NATIONAL PUMPKIN DAY

National Pumpkin Day recognizes a favored autumn decoration and food on October 26th. Not only do they make great fall decorations, but the pumpkin also completes a variety of tasty recipes. Join a pumpkin competition or visit any of the many fall festivals featuring the beautiful gourds.

#NationalPumpkinDay

By October 26th, we’re in a frenzy of pumpkin obsession. We cannot wait for the big November holiday for pumpkin pie. No siree, we need pumpkin everything! Bars, cookies, coffee, cheesecake, pasta, and oatmeal. Pumpkin Chunkin’, pumpkin patches, festivals, bake-offs, and television specials. Let’s not forget jack-o-lantern carving, too! This fruit grabs Americans’ attention.

As it should! This squash is native to North America. The oldest evidence of pumpkin-related seeds dates back to somewhere between 7000 and 5500 BC to seeds found in Mexico.

The word pumpkin originates from the word pepon, which means “large melon” in Greek.

In 2021, Italian Stefano Cutrupi claimed the title of the world’s largest pumpkin when his gargantuan gourd weighed in at 2703 pounds (1,226 kg). That’s 300 pounds heavier than the 2014 winner from Switzerland. In 2020, Travis Gienger grew the largest pumpkin in North America. The hefty vegetable weighed in at 2,350 pounds. It eeked out the previous winner, a 2,145-pound pumpkin from Streator, Illinois grown by Gene McMullen. 

Pumpkins are packed with nutrients, but they’re not only good for humans. Did you know that pumpkin may be recommended by veterinarians as a dietary supplement for dogs and cats? Since pumpkin is easy to digest, if your pet is experiencing certain digestive ailments, don’t be surprised if your vet says to give them pumpkin puree. Poultry also benefits from eating raw pumpkin as a supplement to their regular feed during the winter months to help maintain egg production. As a seasonal food, it sure comes at the right time of year. Since it’s packed with vitamin C, it can boost your immune system to fight off those nasty colds, too. 

HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL PUMPKIN DAY

Ah, pumpkins! They bring to mind wonderful memories and inspire us to artistry. Whether we frame the perfect photo at the local pumpkin patch, carve up the scariest jack-o-lantern or whip up the tastiest batch of pumpkin bars, this is a holiday worth sharing. Roast some pumpkin seeds while the family rakes up those fall leaves. Pour a mug of hot apple cider and bake up your favorite pumpkin recipes, too. Or try a new one. We offer several for you to try! As always, invite someone to Celebrate Every Day® with you, too.

Pumpkin Lasagna
Savory Pumpkin Raviolo
Debbie’s Pumpkin Bars
Pumpkin Pudding

Use #NationalPumpkinDay to post on social media.

How Pumpkins Became Popularized as Jack O’ Lanterns

Today, the pumpkin is associated with the month of October in general and Halloween specifically. That’s probably because it was around Halloween that the Irish and Scottish immigrants to the United States began carving pumpkins and referring to them as “Jack-O-Lanterns.” They did this because of an Irish myth about a man named Stingy Jack. In this story, Stingy Jack invited the Devil to drink with him but didn’t want to pay for his drink, so he asked the devil to turn into a coin that he could use to pay for the drinks. Once the devil changed into the coin, however, Stingy Jack decided to not pay for the drinks but instead place the coin into his pocket next to a silver cross. The silver cross prevented the devil from changing back into his original form and Jack thought of a way he could benefit from this situation. He eventually came up with an idea that he thought was pretty clever.

Stingy Jack told the devil that he would let him change back if the devil would not claim his soul after he died or bother him for a full year. The devil agreed and Jack let him free. The following year, Stingy Jack once again managed to trick the devil by having the devil climb a tree to pick a piece of fruit and then carving a cross underneath him so he couldn’t come down. Jack then made the devil promise that he wouldn’t bother him for another ten years.

Unfortunately for Jack, right after he tricked the devil for the second time, he fell ill and died. Jack then attempted to get into heaven but was refused by God because of his misdeeds, so he tried to get into hell. Once he got to the gates of hell, however, the devil refused him entrance because he had promised Jack he wouldn’t claim his soul. But the devil did give Jack a burning ember from hell so Jack could light his way as he walked the Earth in limbo. Jack carved out a potato (or a turnip in some iterations of the story) and placed the burning coal into it to light his path. He was then known as Jack of the Lantern – a term which was changed to Jack O’ Lantern – and he was forced to walk the Earth on Halloween. Since pumpkins were so readily available around Halloween, Jack O’ Lanterns eventually stopped being created from potatoes and turnips and instead started getting created from pumpkins.