When most people think about December, they think of the holidays and all of the foods associated with it. This includes not only candy canes but also date nut bread, pumpkin and sweet potato pies, hard candy, fruitcake, and of course, cookies.

Cookies are probably the most popular sweet snack/dessert sold during this month. In fact, it’s been estimated that over 1 billion cookies are left out around the world for Santa Claus to enjoy. So, if that many cookies are left out for this jolly old elf, then imagine the number of cookies being enjoyed by everyone else.

The popularity of the cookie has caused the 1st day of December to be named National Cookie Cutter Day. This is the perfect way to start off National Cookie Cutter Week—which runs from the 1st through the 7th of December every year.

The History of National Cookie Cutter Day

The cookie cutter can’t be traced back to any one person or even any particular country. All over the world, crude cookie-cutter devices were used to mold sweet dough into symbols and animal shapes.

During the 16th-century gingerbread man craze, these cutters became more specialized and began to be increasingly manufactured commercially. By the 19th century, they were made of tin and came in a variety of sizes and shapes. Nowadays, cookie cutters can be found in a seemingly endless array of shapes and are typically made out of plastic, aluminum, or copper.

This holiday was first started by Paula Mullins from Kentucky in 1996. She began to collect signatures for the naming of this holiday. She also designed a cookie cutter in the shape of a horse’s head that she passed out to members of the Cookie Cutter Collectors’ Club. This day has since been a holiday that’s not only celebrated by this club but has also been celebrated by members of the general public.

Observing National Cookie Cutter Day

National Cookie Cutter Day is best celebrated by giving friends and family members cookie cutters on this day. And there are thousands of different designs that people can choose from for this gift. There are not only holiday designs but also fantasy, horror, and science fiction cookie cutters that can be bought too.

We encourage everyone to find the designs they like and buy them as early Christmas gifts. We also encourage everyone to take a few moments and spread the word about this holiday online using the hashtag #NationalCookieCutterDay.