Who doesn't love donuts - those warm gooey fried rings covered with sugar or sprinkles or filled with custard or Jelly - Yum! Now, you have a perfect excuse to devour a few - because tomorrow, is National Donut Day!

Celebrated on the first Friday of June every year, this American 'holiday' is not a marketing ploy by the big donut companies, but a tradition that dates all the way back to the Great Depression. It was started in 1938 by the Chicago Salvation Army to raise much-needed funds.

Since then, it has become a revered tradition in the USA and people all over the country celebrate it by . . . . . . . Simply chowing down one (or more) donuts! What's even better is that Dunkin Donuts, Krispy Kreme and even some of the neighborhood stores, give out free donuts all day!

If you are one of the minority that simply don't like donuts, get into the charity spirit - sell donuts to your friends and neighbors and donate the proceeds to your local Salvation Army. After all, it's thanks to their ingenious idea that we have this yummy holiday!

While nobody knows for sure how the modern donut evolved, the earliest known reference to 'doughnuts' has been found in Washington Irving's 'History of New York', published in 1809.

While donuts maybe an American tradtion, most countries around the world have a donut-like incarnation that they enjoy. In the horn of Africa (Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Eritrea ), the ball-shaped Lagayamats are fried and covered with powdered sugar, while the Tunisian Yo-Yo's, are smothered in honey or even sesame seeds. India has a savory version called Vada, while Indonesian's make their Donut Kentang with mashed potatoes and flour and, . . . . . . . the list goes on and on. The bottom line is, no matter where you live, you will be able to celebrate this holiday! Happy Donut Day!

sources: Wikipedia.org, mahalo.com