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Everything You Need to Know About National Pizza Day

The origins of the beloved pizza can be dated back to the early Egyptians in terms of flatbread with toppings, but what we know as the modern-day pizza is from Italy. Since the 1880s, pizza has been a favorite meal of Italians and Italian settlers.  From there, this circular bread topped with tomato sauce and cheese spread around the world and became one of the most popular dishes worldwide. Now, there’s even a National Pizza Day to celebrate this popular food!

pizza on pizza peel

Pizza is by far one of the most popular dishes in the United States. Adults and children alike can all agree that it’s the perfect meal, regardless of the time of day. It’s one of the most classic dishes yet allows for some for the utmost customization too. From traditional cheese or pepperoni to deep-dish, thin-crust, and all the toppings imaginable, pizza is the perfect food.

Any day is the perfect day to eat pizza, but if you’re searching for a reason to eat a melty pie, it’s national pizza day. National pizza day is the best day of the year to order from your favorite pizza joint and pig out on one of the most delicious and cheesy dishes of all time.

What Is National Pizza Day?

pizza slice cheese pull

National pizza day is the perfect day of the year to feast on your favorite food, pizza! Whether you prefer thin crust, Detroit-style, Chicago deep-dish, all the toppings, or a plain cheese pie, it’s the perfect excuse to order that pizza you’ve been craving. 

It’s unclear when national pizza day started or why, but no one’s complaining about an official day where you can chow down on all the pizza you want. My favorite part about national pizza day is that it includes every type of pizza you can imagine. Plus, plenty of restaurants offer specials too. 

When Is National Pizza Day?

Are you wondering when you can celebrate your favorite food with your favorite food? National pizza day is February 9th of every year. It’s the perfect time to treat yourself to that melty, cheesy pizza you’ve been craving or throw the best pizza party of your dreams. 

If you’ve been Googling when national pizza day is, you’ve probably noticed that there are a few different dates. While national pizza day is on February 9th, there are other days of the year dedicated to specific types of pizza. 

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Who Started National Pizza Day?

perfect slice at best pizza spots in brooklyn heights

While it’s not the most important thing to know who started national pizza day, wouldn’t it be nice to know who started the movement that celebrates you and the United States’ favorite meal? While pizza is one of the most popular dishes around the world, it wasn’t always that way. It wasn’t until around World War II that pizza started becoming incredibly popular in the United States. 

It’s not 100% clear who started national pizza day in the United States, but people across the country have been celebrating it since 2000. While there’s not a solid answer on who started the beloved national day, it’s become a cultural phenomenon that celebrates one of the most delicious meals. Whoever decided that February 9th is national pizza day has created one of the best and most celebrated national days of the year. 

How Do You Celebrate National Pizza Day?

group of friends enjoying their time eating pizza in Jacksonville

So, how are you supposed to celebrate national pizza day? By eating pizza, of course! When February 9th rolls around, get ready to dig into your favorite pizza. 

Most pizzerias and restaurants that serve a variety of pizzas will offer specials, encouraging patrons to order a pie to go or eat at their restaurant. You’ll find some restaurants offer a discount on pizza, whether it’s a few dollars off or a buy one get one deal. Either way, it’s more than enough reason to order a pizza. 

Celebrating national pizza day can be done however you want to. Whether you prefer to eat a personal pan pizza at home while watching your favorite movie or throwing a pizza party for your friends with a variety of pizza recipes, there’s no wrong way to celebrate.

One of the best ways to celebrate national pizza day, besides eating pizza, is to make your own! Making pizza at home is very easy if you purchase ready-to-bake pizza dough, and it’s a fun activity to do with friends or family. You can customize your personal pizzas to your liking and then chow down once every pie is baked. 

There’s no right or wrong way to celebrate national pizza day, but according to some people on the internet, there’s one “rule” besides eating pizza. Some people say that it’s traditional to eat at least two slices of pizza on national pizza day, but feel free to eat more if you prefer. 

Pizza Quick Facts

Pizza might be your favorite food, but do you consider yourself an expert when it comes to pizza? If you’re looking to impress your friends on national pizza day or are gearing up for a pizza-themed trivia night, you’ll want to know some of these popular facts. Here are some of the most interesting and surprising facts about the world’s favorite dish: 

  • Even though pizza didn’t become widely popular in the United States until World War II, the first pizzeria in the United States opened in 1905 in New York
  • Lombardi’s was the first pizza joint to open in the United States
  • Over three billion pizzas are sold in the United States per year, not counting frozen pizzas you can buy at the grocery store
  • Over five billion pizzas are sold around the world per year 
  • Pepperoni is one of, if not the most, popular pizza toppings, with over 250 million pounds added to pizzas every year 
  • It’s estimated that 350 slices of pizza are consumed every second in the United States
  • The most expensive pizza in the world is only prepared in Italy by chef Renato Viola, and it costs $12,000 and takes around 72 hours to prepare
  • The highest selling pizza day of the year in America is Superbowl Sunday, with over 50% of Americans consuming the delicious food 
  • Besides Super Bowl Sunday, the other most popular days for pizza consumption in the United States are Halloween, New Year’s Eve, New Years Day, and the day before Thanksgiving
  • Thin crust pizza is the most popular crust type around the world 
  • If you love pizza for breakfast, you belong in the 36% of Americans who love eating pizza for breakfast
  • While people celebrate eating pizza on February 9th, October is national pizza month
  • In Japan, it’s common to find Japanese mayonnaise as a pizza topping or incorporated into the sauce
  • Frozen pizza is a great alternative to have on hand when you’re craving pizza, but before 1962, you couldn’t find frozen pizza on the shelves of the local grocery store
  • The controversial Hawaiian pizza with ham and pineapple isn’t actually from Hawaii; it was created in Canada
  • While in America, pepperoni is the most popular pizza topping, in India, the preferred pizza topping is tofu
  • Not everyone has been to space, but pizza has. The Russian Space Agency delivered a pizza to their astronauts in space once
  • Women are much more likely to order a vegetarian pizza than men are
  • Domino’s pizza is the leading seller of pizzas in the United States, with approximately $7 billion in sales

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Written by Brian Nagele

Brian attended West Virginia University, then started his career in the IT industry before following his passion for marketing and hospitality. He has over 20 years experience in the restaurant and bar industry.

As a former restaurant owner, he knows about running a food business and loves to eat and enjoy cocktails on a regular basis. He constantly travels to new cities tasting and reviewing the most popular spots.

Follow him on LinkedIn, Instagram, Quora, Google Guide and Facebook.