National Donut Day: The Sweet Holiday That’s Taking Over the World — Here Are 5 Facts You Didn’t Know
- It started as a salute to World War I volunteers: The first National Donut Day was created by The Salvation Army in 1938 to honor the 'Donut Lassies,' women who served freshly fried treats to soldiers on the front lines.
- Major chains give away free donuts, so plan your route: Krispy Kreme, Dunkin’, and hundreds of local shops offer free glazed donuts (no purchase needed) on the first Friday of June, creating a national scramble that trends every year.
- A single American consumes 52 donuts annually: That’s a staggering 10 billion donuts produced in the U.S. each year, with National Donut Day driving a 30% spike in sales as people line up for the freebies.
- The world record for donut eating is shockingly high: The current record stands at 29 donuts in 8 minutes, set in 2020 — a feat that often resurfaces in viral news snippets around National Donut Day.
- Hashtag #NationalDonutDay breaks social media: On the day itself, over 5 million posts flood Instagram and Twitter, with brands, celebrities, and users sharing creative donut art and memes, making it one of the top trending keywords in Google searches.