National Pasta day is celebrated every October 17. The folks who created pasta definitely knew what they were doing. Hundreds of years of Italian tradition go into this simple meal. Each October, we devote a special day to this incredible dish. Pasta come in many shapes and sizes but no matter the form, it’s something nearly every American Family has grown up with.
National Pasta Day Activities
1. Invent your own pasta shape
There are approximately 350 different types of pasta around the world, so mimic your favorite one or invent a unique pasta shape. Choose a basic pasta dough recipe and then let the creativity run wild!
2. Host a spaghetti dinner
For those of you who ever played a sport or have just grown up with pasta, there’s nothing better than sharing a table with a group of teammates, friends, or family and bonding over a large plate of spaghetti and meatballs. Whatever the occasion, invite some friends over to rekindle the joy of this family-friendly classic.
3. Indulge in your favorite pasta dish
Craving those carbs? Today is your ultimate cheat day. Make a reservation at your favorite pasta place and indulge in oodles of noodles.
History of National Pasta Day
Spaghetti, fettuccini, macaroni, and ravioli: pasta is undoubtably one of our favorite comfort foods. But do we know how the dish became so popular here in the states? Or where it even came from? The origins of pasta are a little difficult to trace, but many researchers support the theory that Marco Polo brought noodles back to Italy upon returning from a trip to China in 1271.
Though this theory supports a tale of discovery and adventure, Marco Polo’s travels are all retold through second hand sources, making the accuracy questionable. However, if Marco Polo did bring pasta back to Italy, he certain wasn’t the first to do so. Pasta was already a popular dish in Italy by the early 13th century. Other historians have traced pasta back to ancient Etruscan civilizations, who would grind cereals and grains before mixing them with water to produce their own pasta-like carbohydrate.
Pasta was brought to America by early Spanish settlers, but wasn’t popular until Thomas Jefferson made a trip to Paris and fell in love with macaroni (which, at the time, referred to any pasta shape). Years later, when a large group of Italian immigrants moved from Italy to America, pasta became a staple and obtainable meal in the United States.
