Posted on 10/24/2025 7:10:33 AM PDT by Red Badger
NATIONAL BOLOGNA DAY
Slice it, fry it, or stack it high! October 24th is National Bologna Day, a time to celebrate one of America's most iconic and nostalgic lunch meats. It’s the perfect day to honor the simple, satisfying joy of a bologna sandwich.
#NationalBolognaDay
You might pronounce this sandwich meat "baloney," and that's perfectly fine, but the name "bologna" comes from its birthplace: Bologna, Italy. The original Italian sausage, mortadella, is a finely ground pork sausage dotted with flavorful cubes of lard and often pistachios. It's a true Italian delicacy!
American bologna is a bit different. U.S. food regulations require the sausage to be finely ground without any visible pieces of lard, which gives it that smooth, uniform texture we all recognize. While typically made from pork or beef, modern versions can be found made from chicken, turkey, venison, or even soy protein for a vegetarian-friendly option.
Bologna Bowl – When a slice of bologna is heated, the fat renders and the round slice takes the shape of a bowl which may be filled with cheese or other fillings.
Many of us grew up with bologna sandwiches, and for good reason! They are endlessly customizable. Classic toppings like mustard, mayo, ketchup, cheese, lettuce, pickles, and tomato are always winners. But have you ever tried it fried? When you heat a slice of bologna in a pan, the edges curl up, magically transforming it into a little bowl. This "bologna bowl" is the perfect edible container for a scoop of melted cheese, scrambled eggs, or even chili!
Don't stop at the standard deli slice. The world of bologna is vast and delicious! German bologna often includes garlic and other robust seasonings. Bologan from Lebanon is made of tangy, sweet, and smoky semi-dry sausage from Pennsylvania Dutch country. Rag bologna is a Southern specialty! This version of bologna has more fat and is traditionally sold wrapped in a cloth "rag."
HOW TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL BOLOGNA DAY
Are you ready to celebrate National Bologna Day? Let's move beyond the basic sandwich and have some real fun with it! Here are our tips to celebrate this quirky food holiday:
Host a bologna tasting! Grab German, Lebanon, classic beef bologna and slice them up for a tasting platter. Pair them with different mustards, cheeses, and crackers.
Build a your own gourmet sandwich. Fry up some bologna and elevate it with a toasted brioche bum, spicy aioli, a slice of sharp cheddar, and a fried egg.
Support your local deli and them them a shout-out for slicing slices your bologna just the way you like it! Share you ultimate bologna sandwich recipe. and snap a photo of your delicious masterpiece and share it online using the hashtag #NationalBolognaDay.
NATIONAL BOLOGNA DAY HISTORY
National Day Calendar® continues researching the origins of this tasty food holiday. While the founder of National Bologna Day remains a mystery, the day has been enthusiastically adopted by food lovers and fans of this classic lunch meat. It continues to be celebrated each year, honoring a food that brings back fond memories for many and continues to be a simple, delicious staple.
Bologna FAQ
Q. Can I freeze bologna to use later?
A. Yes, you can freeze bologna for up to 2 months. Make sure you package it in a freezer-safe material.
Q. How many calories are in bologna?
A. A 3 ounce serving of bologna can contain up to 210 calories.
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Notable Birthdays for October 24
Sarah Josepha Hale (1788-1879) - Author who wrote Mary Had A Little Lamb.
Belva Ann Lockwood (1830-1917) -First female attorney to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court.
Annie Edson Taylor (1838-1921) - Stuntwoman who became the first person to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel.
James S. Sherman (1855-1812) -The 27th VP of the U.S.
B. A. Rolfe (1879-1956) - Musician known as the Boy Trumpet Wonder.
Earl Morris (1889-1956) - Archaeologist who created the Aztec Ruins National Monument.
Main Rousseau Bocher (1890-1976) - Uniform designer for the Red Cross and Girl Scouts.
Merian C. Cooper (1893-1973) - Film director and producer of the original King Kong.
Marjorie Joyner (1896-1994) - First Black woman to create and patent a permanent hair-wave machine.
Melvin Purvis (1903-1960) - FBI agent who captured bank robbers John Dillinger and Pretty Boy Floyd and later became a significant figure during the Nuremburg Trials against the Nazi's.
Nathaniel Wyeth (1911-1990) - Inventor of the PET plastic beverage bottle.
Sonny Terry (1911-1986) - Blind blues and harmonica musician.
Murray Golden (1912-1991) - Television director of Bonanza and Rawhide.
Bob Kane (1915-2003) - Illustrator and co-creator of Batman.
Roger Milliken (1915-2010) - Former CEO of Milliken & Company.
Barbara Robinson (1927-2013) - Author of children's books The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and The Best School Year Ever.
Jack Angel (1930-2021) - Voice actor with credits in Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo, Disney and Nickelodeon.
The Big Bopper (1930-1959) - Musician of Chantilly Lace and Running Bear who died in a plane crash with fellow musicians Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens.
John G. Cramer (1934-Still Living) - Physicist known for his work in the development of quantum mechanics.
Sammy Petrillo (1934-2009) - Comedian said to be the best Jerry Lee Lewis intiminator of all time.
David Nelson (1936-2011) - Actor who played himself on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet.
F. Murray Abraham (1939-Still Living) - Stage and film actor known for his role as Mozart.
William H. Dobelle (1941-2004) - Medical researcher known for development of technology that restores partial vision.
BD Wong (1960-Still Living) - Stage, film and television actor who played Dr. Johnathan Lee on Law & Order: SVU.
Zahn McClarnon (1966-Still Living) - Native American actor best known for his roles in Longmire, Reservation Dogs and Dark Winds.
Zac Posen (1980-Still Living) - Famous fashion designer.
Adrienne Bailon (1983-Still Living) - Former singer of the group The Cheetah Girls.
Daniel Shalikar (1988-Still Living) - Child star with roles in Honey I Blew Up the Kids.
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Memorable Events for October 24
1836 - Alonzo Phillips receives a patent for a phosphorus friction match.
1861 - The first transcontinental telegraph line from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. is completed.
1861 - West Virginia secedes from Virginia.
1881 - U.S. Ambassador Levi Morton inserts the first rivet in Statue of Liberty.
1908- Take Me Out to the Ball Game hits the charts.
1911 - Orville Wright remains in the air 9:45 in his glider.
1926 - Harry Houdini makes his last performance.
1931 - The George Washington Bridge opens to public traffic over the Hudson River.
1931 - Al Capone is sentenced to 11 years for tax evasion.
1938 - The U.S. makes child labor in factories illegal.
1939 - Nylon stockings go on sale for first time in Delaware.
1940 - Minimum wage is set for $0.30 for a 44 hour work week.
1947 - Walt Disney testifies before the House Un-American Activities Committee giving the names of Disney employees he believes to be communists.
1949 - The first brick for the UN Headquarters in NY is laid.
1954 - President Eisenhower pledges support to South Vietnam.
1956 - Margaret Towner becomes first woman to be ordained into the Presbyterian Church in the U.Sx
I've eaten many of them!
Of course...SPAM for breakfast with a couple fresh eggs.
It’s gross. Like pimento cheese.
Mortally is too rich for me.
Looks like cotto salami.
Mortadella. I swear it changed after I did preview.
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