National Eat a Hoagie Day Date in the current year: September 14, 2024

A submarine sandwich, commonly referred to as a sub, is a sandwich made of a long bread roll that is split lengthwise and stuffed with an assortment of fillings such as meets, cheeses, vegetables, and condiments. Submarine sandwiches are popular throughout the United States, and there are entire restaurant chains that specialize in them. Subs are also widely available at convenience stores, delis, and supermarkets.

The terms “submarine sandwich” and “sub” are used throughout the United States, but some areas also have their own names for the sandwich. For example, the term “hoagie” is common in Philadelphia’s metropolitan area and Western Pennsylvania. There are several possible explanations for the origin of the name.

According to a 1953 issue of the Philadelphia Bulletin, the submarine sandwich was introduced to Philadelphia by Italians working at a shipyard at Hog Island during World War I. Originally known as the Hog Island sandwich, the name was shortened to Hoggie and then to hoagie.

Another explanation involving Italian immigrants ties the word “hoagie” to the expression “on the hoke”, which meant a destitute person. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, deli owners would give away scraps of meats and cheeses in a bread roll. They called these sandwiches “hokie”, but Italian immigrants couldn’t pronounce the name properly, transforming it into “hoagie”.

Some online dictionaries claim that the hoagie was named after Hoagland Howard “Hoagy” Carmichael, a successful American musician, composer and songwriter. However, Etymonline.com notes that the use of the word predates Carmichael’s fame.

One more explanation is offered by the Philadelphia Almanac and Citizen’s Manual. It claims that the word “hoagie” was derived from the phrase “hokey-pokey men”. Hokey-pokey men were early-20th-century street vendors who created and sold sandwiches consisting of a long loaf cut in half and stuffed with antipasto salad.

Be that as it may, the term “hoagie” in its numerous variations and forms was widely used throughout the Philadelphia area as early as the 1940s. The spelling “hoagie” eventually became dominant, and Philadelphia restaurants were actively using the term by the mid-1950s. About a decade later, hoagies became widespread in Pittsburgh.

In 1992, Ed Rendell, then Mayor of Philadelphia, declared the hoagie the official sandwich of Philadelphia, despite claims that the sandwich actually originated in nearby Chester. So, while the origin of National Eat a Hoagie Day is unknown, we bet it was created by someone from the Philadelphia area because who else would insist on calling a sub a hoagie?

The best way to celebrate National Eat a Hoagie Day is, well, to eat a hoagie. You can go out to your favorite sub place or made this filling sandwich at home from scratch. And don’t forget to snap a photo of your hoagie before eating it and post it on social media with the hashtag #NationalEatAHoagieDay to spread the word about the holiday.