National Bacon Lover’s Day Date in the current year: August 20, 2024

Bacon is one of several types of salt-cured pork. There are different types of bacon depending on the cut from which it is made: side bacon (made from the belly cut; the most common type of bacon in the US), back bacon (the most common type of bacon in the UK and Ireland), collar bacon, cottage bacon, and jowl bacon.

Salt-cured pork has existed in many cultures for millennia, but the term “bacon” is relatively recent. During the Middle Ages, the word “bacon” (also spelled “bacoun”) referred to any kind of pork. The first use of the term to refer to salt-cured and smoked pork belly dates back to the 17th century. Before the industrial revolution, bacon was produced locally in rural communities.

The commercialization of bacon began in the 1770s, when John Harris opened a bacon processing plant in Wiltshire, England. He is regarded as the forefather of industrial-scale bacon production. Since bacon became commercially available, it has been widely consumed in many countries, but the United States and Canada have seen a sharp increase in its popularity over the past years. This phenomenon is known as bacon mania.

Passionate enthusiasm in bacon in North America, particularly in the United States, has resulted in the emergence of novelty bacon dishes and various bacon-focused events such as bacon happy hours, beer and bacon tastings, bacon cook-offs, bacon festivals, and more. Some brands have started to produce bacon-flavored products to capitalize on the popularity of bacon. They include bacon salt, bacon bits (typically used as a salad or potato topping), bacon-flavored mayonnaise (Baconnaise), and even bacon-flavored vodka.

Given the popularity of bacon, it is not surprising that there are several holidays dedicated to it. One of them is National Bacon Lover’s Day. The origin of this bacon-themed holiday is unclear. According to some sources, it originated in the United Kingdom. Other sources claim that the celebration was started by some residents in Bradford, Massachusetts in 2000.

Be that as it may, National Bacon Lover’s Day is celebrated by bacon lovers in several English-speaking countries, so maybe we should start calling it International Bacon Lover’s Day. However, it may cause confusion with International Bacon Day, which is celebrated on the Saturday before Labor Day.

How to observe National Bacon Lover’s Day? Of course, the best way to celebrate the holiday is to indulge in delicious bacon dishes. You can stick to traditional options such as bacon and eggs, BLT, Cobb salad or clams casino, but if you’re feeling adventurous we recommend that you try some of the unusual bacon dishes such as chicken fried bacon (battered and deep-fried bacon), chocolate-covered bacon, maple bacon donuts or bacon ice cream. And don’t forget to spread the word about this delicious holiday on social media using the hashtag #NationalBaconLoversDay.