Most people know the banana as an elongated yellow fruit that must be peeled before it’s enjoyed. They are the fruit often cut up and used in cereal, used in banana splits (ice cream with sauces and bananas), or eaten whole as a snack.

They are also used to make banana chips (dried banana slices) or used as a flavoring in shakes, smoothies, and other delicious concoctions. By and large, they are a fruit that’s loved by just about everyone — which is why someone has decided to invent a holiday dedicated to it. This holiday is observed annually on the third Wednesday in April and is known as National Banana Day.

The History Of National Banana Day

Historians and scientists alike believe that bananas originated about 10,000 years ago, and some even think they may have been the world’s first fruit used by humans. It’s believed that the first bananas were grown in the Malay Peninsula, Indonesia, New Guinea, and the Philippines.

It’s then believed that traders took the fruit to parts of India, Africa, and Polynesia. By 200 AD, bananas had spread to China. Of course, these early versions of bananas were very different from the ones we enjoy today. They were filled with large, hard seeds and had less of the tasty flesh that modern bananas do.

As for the history of National Banana Day, that subject is still up for debate. Currently, no one knows when this holiday was created or who created it. We’ll continue to search the Internet regularly and see if we can eventually find the origins of this holiday. Until we do, however, this section will remain as it is.

Some Fascinating Facts About Bananas

Below are some facts about bananas that we find completely fascinating. Some of them might even seem a bit unbelievable, but trust us when we say that they are completely believable. With that said, let’s look at the following facts as we enjoy bananas on National Banana Day.

• Approximately 70% of African banana production is done by local farms that have been growing for over 1,000 years.
• The banana is botanically classified as a berry.
• Spanish missionaries first introduced bananas to the Americas during the 16th century.
• Although the plant that bananas grow on is often called a tree, it’s actually an herbaceous flowering plant. The trunk is a false stem.

Observing National Banana Day

In our humble opinion, the best way to observe National Banana Day is by enjoying this fruit in some way. You can peel a banana and enjoy it as is, or it can be worked into a smoothie, banana shake/malt, or even cut up and added to a bowl of cereal.

People also commonly use bananas to make banana nut muffins, banana cream pie, banana pancakes, ice cream, banana bread, and Bananas Foster. No matter how a person decides to use this fruit, they should take the time to let us all know about it by using the hashtag #NationalBananaDay on social media.