Graham crackers are a food item that most people don’t think too much about, not unless they’re making s’mores or some other graham cracker-based snack. In fact, most people probably think they are even a little bit boring. However, there is a holiday that aims to change people’s perceptions about graham crackers, and that holiday is National Graham Cracker Day. This holiday falls on July 5th and encourages everyone to share their favorite graham cracker recipes and enjoy these “crackers” with friends and family members.

The History of Graham Crackers

Graham crackers were invented by Sylvester Graham in the early 19th century. Graham was a Presbyterian minister who was looking to invent a food that would complement his vegetarian diet, a diet that he believed would make people less likely to masturbate.

Yes, Graham felt that meat, white flour, and spices inspired sinful thoughts, so he created a diet that consisted mostly of fruits, vegetables, and limited amounts of dairy. He even led a movement that featured the Graham Diet as a tool to help people with self-control over masturbation and other forms of sexual activity. In 1851, this movement began to fade away after Graham’s death. The diet was later promoted by Dr. John Harvey Kellogg—the superintendent of the Battle Creek Sanitarium in Michigan. Dr. Kellogg and his brother would go on to invent wheat flakes—which they called Granose.

Facts About Graham Crackers

Want some more interesting facts about graham crackers? We thought you might, so we decided to provide some interesting facts about graham crackers that everyone reading this might enjoy while they’re eating their graham crackers.

• The first graham crackers were made using unrefined flour, which made them very bland.
• During the late 19th century, a variety of bakeries all over the U.S. made graham crackers.
• In 1898, these bakeries joined together to form the National Biscuit Company—also known as Nabisco.
• Graham crackers can also be used in savory dishes.
• Graham crackers are delicious for ice cream dishes.

Observing National Graham Cracker Day

National Graham Cracker Day can be observed by simply picking up some graham crackers and enjoying them straight out of the box or in a recipe. Graham crackers form the basis of many desserts, including s’mores, frozen fruit sandwiches, ice cream sandwiches, and can even be used for pie crusts. People observing this holiday can also use the hashtag #NationalGrahamCrackerDay to spread the word about this holiday on social media.