When is Banana Split Day? August 25th!
What is a Banana Split?
"A banana split is an ice cream-based dessert. In its classic form it is served in a long dish called a "boat". A banana is cut in two lengthwise (hence the split) and laid in the dish. Variations abound, but the classic banana split is made with scoops of vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream served in a row between the split banana. Pineapple topping is spooned over the vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup over the chocolate, and strawberry topping over the strawberry. It is garnished with crushed nuts, whipped cream and maraschino cherries."
"David Evans Strickler, a 23-year-old apprentice pharmacist at Tassel Pharmacy in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, who enjoyed inventing sundaes at the store's soda fountain, invented the banana-based triple ice cream sundae in 1904. The sundae originally cost 10 cents, twice the price of other sundaes, and caught on with students of nearby Saint Vincent College. News of the sundae spread by word-of-mouth by students, through correspondence, and at professional conventions. Strickler went on to buy the pharmacy, naming it Strickler's Pharmacy. The city of Latrobe celebrated the 100th anniversary of the invention of the banana split in 2004, and in the same year the National Ice Cream Retailers Association (NICRA) certified the city as its birthplace."
"A year or two later, historians say, a Boston ice cream entrepreneur came up with the same sundae, with one minor flaw — he served his banana splits with the bananas unpeeled until he discovered that ladies preferred them peeled."
"Town fathers in Wilmington, Ohio, claim their city, southeast of Dayton, is the birthplace of the popular treat. In 1907, restaurant owner Ernest Hazard wanted to attract students from Wilmington College during the slow days of winter. He staged an employee contest to come up with a new ice cream dish. When none of his workers were up to the task, he split a banana lengthwise, threw it into an elongated dish and created his own dessert. The town commemorates the event each June with a Banana Split Festival."
"Walgreens is credited with spreading the popularity of the banana split. The early drug stores operated by Charles Rudolph Walgreen in the Chicago area adopted the banana split as a signature dessert. Fountains in the stores proved to be drawing cards, attracting customers who might otherwise have been just as satisfied having their prescriptions filled at some other drug store in the neighborhood."
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How is this holiday celebrated?
This holiday is celebrated by eating a banana split in honor of National Banana Split Day; or by having a banana split party! Banana Split Parties make perfect theme Parties not just for National Banana Split Day but great for other celebrations as well! (like birthday party) Nothing could be easier than setting up a a make-shift ice cream parlor that's full of different ice cream flavors, topping like nuts, sprinckles, cherries and whipped cream. Let everyone pig out on ice cream! If you need some help with ideas, we have some great party planning tips and Party Game ideas to help you celebrate this dessert holiday.
Origin of this Holiday?
Our research did not find the creator, or the origin of this day. We did however find that this holiday has been celebrated for years and the banana split does have a history. There is plenty of documentation to support that this holiday does indeed exist. - Was this this holiday created by a food organization? Our research couldn't find the answer to thT question - This holiday is referred to as a "National" day. However, we did not find any congressional records or presidential proclamations for this day. Even though we didn't, this is still a holiday that is publicized to celebrate. So have fun with it and celebrate it!
Banana pudding is a dessert common in the Southern United States, generally consisting of repeated layers of sweet custard, cookies (usually Vanilla Wafers) and sliced bananas placed in a dish, baked and served, sometimes with whipped cream or meringue on top.