NATIONAL BAGELFEST DAY – July 26 | National Day Calendar

National Bagelfest Day on July 26 recognizes the kosher carbohydrate that is crunchy on the outside and chewy on the inside. Join us as we explore the delicious facts behind the bagel and add our own schmeer to the topic.

#NationalBagelfestDay

Polish-Jewish immigrants introduced the bagel to the United States some time during the 19th century. Throughout New York City and the surrounding boroughs, they grew thriving bagel businesses. Of course, it didn’t take long for the bagel bakers to form an organization for bagel bakers in the city. The International Beigel Bakers’ Union was created in 1907. For decades, Bagel Bakers Local 338 held contracts with nearly all bagel bakeries in and around the city for its workers.

Until the 1960s, bakeries made bagels by hand. Then Daniel Thompson invented the bagel maker and along came a heated debate of man versus the machine. Thereafter, the question of the better bagel dangled before customers. Was it the handcrafted bagel or the manufactured bagel?

The bagel became more common throughout North America during the last quarter of the 20th century. Credit for the bagels’ spread across the country goes in part to the efforts of bagel baker Harry Lender, his son, Murray Lender, and Florence Lender. Their pioneering efforts led to the automated production and distribution of frozen bagels in the 1960s. Murray also invented pre-slicing the bagel.

HOW TO OBSERVE NATIONAL BAGELFEST DAY

The day allows us to explore the history behind the bagel and savor the varied flavors. Grab some bagels and your favorite toppings. Post on social media using #NationalBagelfestDay.

NATIONAL BAGELFEST DAY HISTORY

Murray Lender, the owner of Lenders Bagels, founded National Bagelfest Day. In 1986, Murray started the festival in Mattoon, Illinois, home of the world’s largest bagel factory…………[read more]