National Animal Crackers Day

National Animal Crackers Day is an annual American holiday dedicated to animal-shaped crackers. These crunchy goodies are popular all over the world, but not many people know their history. The holiday is designed to fix that! It is celebrated on April 18.

History

The history of National Animal Crackers Day is not reliably known, but we know that such crackers have existed for more than 150 years. Researchers point to the beginning of their production in the second half of the 19th century. However, there is little information about this. Soon the crackers were imported to the United States, where they quickly became a favorite among the inhabitants.

The Stauffer’s Biscuit Company began mass production of crackers in 1871. It developed its own recipe that produced crispy and slightly sweet cookies. They paid tribute to the classic English cookie, but at the same time were not so sweet.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the company Nabisco joined the production of crackers. It began to use brightly colored cardboard boxes for packaging, made in the style of T. Barnum’s circus wagons. Combined with a huge variety of shapes of cookies (you could find tigers, dogs, elephants, rhinoceroses, etc.) the products quickly won love among children. The use of circus themes played into the company’s hands, because children are always attracted by brightly colored packages. Sales grew annually.

Today we can please ourselves with a package of crackers in the form of animals. Enjoy their pleasant taste on their own, as well as to please their children.

Interesting facts

• In one shift in the U.S. produced about 15,000 boxes and more than 30,000 pieces of crackers in the shape of animals.
• Barnum’s Animals Crackers are exported to 17 countries.

How to celebrate

Buy several packages of cookies at the store. You can count the variety of animals you come across. Gather your friends and family for a tea party accompanied by eating animal-shaped crackers.

Spread the word about the holiday on social media. Ask users when they first tried animal-shaped crackers. What were their impressions?

When National Animal Crackers Day celebrated in 2024?

National Animal Crackers Day is observed on April 18 each year.

Observations