Welcome to our series sharing Food Holidays: July 3rd, 2022: National Hot Dog Month. I don’t know about you but there is times I wouldn’t mind having a Hot Dog and other times I don’t want one. When Charlie and David could eat Hot Dogs 24/ 7 and never get tired of them. How about you are you a Hot Dog lover?
National Hot Dog Month
Aside from being National Picnic Month, did you know July is also National Hot Dog Month? The hot Weather is perfect for grilling, and what better food to toss on the grill than a Hot Dog? it’s time to celebrate the deliciousness the Summer with Hot Dogs.
History of National Hot Dog Month
There is no strong evidence to show when or where Hot Dogs were created, but the likely story is that Hot Dogs came into America via immigrants. People believe that Sausage makers from Vienna, Austria, and Frankfurt, Germany where the terms ‘Wiener’ and ‘Frankfurter’ originated respectively brought the wonderful invention of Hot Dogs to the U.S. This is probably why Hot Dogs are also called Frankfurters, Franks, and Wieners.
Sports cartoonist Tad Dorgan was in the press box, reporting on a baseball game at the Polo Grounds in New York when he heard vendors yelling, “Get your Dachshund Sausages while they’re red hot!” Tad Dorgan sketched a cartoon to show the scene, but Tad Dorgan was unsure of how to spell the word ‘ Dachshund,’ so he called them ‘Hot Dogs.’ And that is how we came to know Weiners by their popular moniker. The food went on to become a household name across America in the Nineteenth Century, with local versions like the Chicago Dog, and the Corn Dog popping up all over the U.S.
National Hot Dog Month was founded by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce about 65 years ago. Since that time, a special council formed to answer questions about Hot Dogs and their history. The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council promotes this month-long celebration each year. This council also founded National Hot Dog Day, which is also celebrated in July.
How To Celebrate National Hot Dog Month
- Throw Hot Dogs and Veggies on the grill, and invite family over for an impromptu party to welcome Summer. You can do a Hot Dog buffet or invite each guest to bring their own condiments and relishes.
- Did you know you could make Hot Dogs at home? If you have the time and the inclination, why not whip up your own version of the Hot Dog. This way, you can even choose the filling of Meat that goes into the Hot Dog. All you need to find are Sheep Casings which you can ask your local butcher for help or check online, your choice of Meat, and a good recipe which you can find online to start with.
- The National Hot Dog and Sausage Council plan various activities for National Hot Dog Month, like Wiener Dog races, Root Beer chugging competitions, and more. Check their website to see if any are events are being held near you or virtually, and enter. If you cannot find activities, why not plan your own with the help of your community, family, and friends? Making the event as creative as you like, and throw in a prize for the winners.
5 Fun Facts About Hot Dogs
- When kids were asked what they would add to Hot Dogs if their moms were not watching, 25% of the kids replied ‘Chocolate Sauce’.
- Apollo 11 Astronauts Neil Armstrong and “Buzz” Aldrin Jr. ate Hot Dogs while on the Moon, making Hot Dogs one of the first foods eaten on the Moon.
- Did you know each American eats approximately 60 Hot Dogs a year.
- Former American President Franklin D. Roosevelt served Hot Dogs to Queen Elizabeth and King George, the latter of whom ate two.
- A Food Truck in Seattle, the Tokyo Dog food truck holds the record for the most expensive Hot Dog which costs $169.
Why PEOPLE Love National Hot Dog Month
- Hot Dogs have been woven into the fabric of America so seamlessly, it seems as though Hot Dogs have always been a part of American cuisine. What Hot Dogs are, however, is a true indication of how different Cultures influence our own traditions and food. This gift from the immigrants has been adopted as our own, and we won’t change a thing about how Hot Dogs became a key part of our food.
- However you choose to eat Hot Dogs including Ketchup, Mayo, or Mustard, Hot Dogs are a delight, especially if all the condiments and Buns complement each other.
- Some traditions are made to be followed, always. If you are watching a Baseball game, whether on TV or the field, you need a Hot Dog. Hot Dogs have been a staple at Baseball Games for over a Century now, and we automatically associate Baseball games with Hot Dogs.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
