July 20, 2022 - National Fortune Cookie Day | National Hot Dog Day

Welcome to July 20th, 2022 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate a sweet ending and a royal dog. One of the staples of Chinese takeout didn’t come from China at all, but rather from Japan. In the late 1800s, Japanese bakers began making crackers with small notes inside. Japanese immigrants to America opened up Chinese restaurants to capitalize on the growing popularity of Chinese food. They served these fortune cookies as dessert and the treats caught on. During World War II, Chinese immigrants to the United States opened more restaurants and kept the tradition of fortune cookies alive. Now, a takeout meal of General Tso’s Chicken wouldn’t be complete without a fortune. On National Fortune Cookie Day, celebrate this sweet ending to any good meal. When King George VI visited the United States in 1939, FDR hosted him at his Hyde Park estate. In the weeks prior to the event word got out that an American picnic featuring hot dogs would be served to the English King and Queen rather than a fancy state dinner. This news caused such a stir that First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt had to address it. And while the queen was heard to say, How do you eat this? as she had never had a hot dog before, the king loved them so much that he asked for seconds. On National Hot Dog Day, fire up the grill and enjoy this summertime favorite fit for a king and queen. I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices