National Popcorn Day

National Popcorn Day, observed January 19th, celebrates one of the oldest snack foods in the Americas, with archaeological evidence showing that popcorn was eaten by Indigenous peoples in Mexico and Peru thousands of years ago, using early corn varieties whose kernels could pop when heated because of their hard outer hull and moisture-rich starchy center. Popcorn became a mainstream American snack in the 19th century, especially after the invention of steam-powered popcorn machines in the 1890s made it easy to sell fresh, hot popcorn at fairs, circuses, and street corners. The snack found an especially enduring home in movie theaters starting in the 1930s, when struggling theater owners during the Great Depression began renting lobby space to popcorn vendors, only to realize how much more profitable in-house concessions could be, cementing the now-inseparable link between popcorn and moviegoing. Popcorn remains popular today both for its low cost and its status as a whole-grain snack. On National Popcorn Day, people celebrate by popping a batch at home, trying new seasonings and toppings, or enjoying popcorn during a movie night.