The corn dog is a food that’s enjoyed by people attending fairs, sporting events, or other events where it’s convenient to serve food on a stick. It’s a snack food that was first patented in the 1920s and has remained a popular food choice ever since. That’s probably why there’s a whole holiday dedicated to this food, celebrated in March every year and aptly named National Corn Dog Day.

The History Of National Corn Dog Day

This day can be traced back to 1992, when it was created by Henry Otley and Brady Sahnow in honor of corndogs and March Madness basketball in Corvallis, Oregon. In 2012, Oregon Governor John A. Kitzhaber proclaimed March 17, 2012, to be National Corn Dog Day in Oregon. Since that first National Corn Dog Day, the holiday has spread to other parts of the U.S and is now widely celebrated, often on March 20th.

The History Of Corn Dogs

Corn dogs can be traced to German immigrants who brought them to Texas when they migrated there in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These immigrants were sausage makers by trade but found it somewhat difficult to sell these sausages in Texas, so they decided to roll them in a batter made from cornbread and then fry them. That seemed to do the trick, and soon after, corndogs became a popular snack food.

In 1927, a patent was filed for corndogs in the United States and was approved in 1929. Although it wasn’t specifically for corndogs but for any food impaled on a stick, battered, and then deep-fried in vegetable oil. Since then, a variety of different people and companies have claimed to have invented or popularized this food. Today, it’s widely available just about anywhere.

Facts About Corn Dogs

As we researched this holiday, we came across some interesting facts about corn dogs. Facts that we believe all of our readers will enjoy and will help our readers get more out of their celebration of this holiday.

• The Texas State Fair sells over 630,000 corn dogs during a 3-week season.
• In Argentina, corn dogs are known as Panchukers.
• In Australia, there’s a variant of corn dogs known as Dippy Dogs.
• Corn dogs are popular in South Korea and Japan.

Observing National Corn Dog Day

National Corn Dog Day can be celebrated in a number of different ways. You can buy your favorite brand of corn dogs or try making them at home, or you can visit Coney Island—a tourist attraction known for not only their corn dogs but also their special Coney Dogs. You can also use the hashtag #NationalCornDogDay to let everyone know that you’re celebrating this holiday with a corndog and a smile.