National Cherry Dessert Day, annually observed on May 26, is a holiday for those with a sweet appetite. Cherries seem to pair well with nearly everything. From cherry cobblers to cherry cheesecakes, this fruit’s versatility is limitless. On National Cherry Day, we celebrate this characteristic, as well as the fruit’s delicious flavour and health benefits. Cherries can be either natural or cultivated, growing on a bush or a tree, and they provide an abundance of vitamins and minerals. Today is set aside annually to honour cherry desserts, leaving us with insatiable appetites and creative inspiration.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL CHERRY DESSERT DAY
If you’ve reached this point, you are either a fan of cherry desserts, curious about the rarity of this holiday, or searching for unique methods to celebrate. In any event, you’ve come to the right place, as we provide all the answers you require below.
When discussing National Cherry Dessert Day, it would be more accurate to discuss the origin of cherries, as cherry desserts would not exist without cherries. Throughout history, numerous types and even colours of cherries have been identified. The expression ‘wild cherries’ refers to cherries that grow outside of cultivation.
The word cherry was derived from the Old Northern French word ‘cherise,’ which was derived from the Latin term ‘cerasum’ to refer to the ancient Greek region of Kerasous, where it is said cherries were first exported to Europe. In the United States, cherries first appeared in Brooklyn, New York. In Massachusetts, colonists planted the first tart cherries, which remain a popular fruit.
Queen Elizabeth I is credited with creating the first cherry pie in the 1500s, when fruit pies and pastries first appeared. Since then, numerous cherry-flavored delicacies have appeared. Cherry can be used as a filling, as in cherry pie and cobbler, as a flavouring component, as in cherry cheesecake, or as a topping, as in cherry tarts or pastries.
National Cherry Dessert Day’s origins remain largely unknown, but that does not prevent us from commemorating this sweet holiday! It is annually observed on May 26, following National Cherry Month and preceding Cherry Day.
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Five Interesting Cherries Facts
The variety is limitless
There are over a thousand distinct cherry varieties.
The President George Washington and cherries
Mason Locke Weems, Washington’s first biographer, invented the myth that George Washington chopped down a cherry tree.
Its trees are extremely fertile.
Every harvest, the average cherry tree yields approximately 7,000 cherries.
Turkey leads the pack
The world leader in cherry production, Turkey produces 535,000 tonnes of cherries annually.
Since prehistoric times
Archaeologists have discovered cherry fragments from the Stone Age in Europe and Asia.
NATIONAL CHERRY DESSERT DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | May 26 | Friday |
| 2024 | May 26 | Sunday |
| 2025 | May 26 | Monday |
| 2026 | May 26 | Tuesday |
| 2027 | May 26 | Wednesday |
