National Date Nut Bread Day is a holiday observed on December 22nd, celebrating a delicious bread with a storied history. Date nut bread has been made for well over 82 years in Great Britain and Scotland and might be even older than that.

It’s a dish enjoyed in tea rooms across the U.K. and can still be seen on holiday tables for Christmas. It’s also a bread that’s becoming increasingly popular in the U.S., and many Americans have been serving date nut bread with their Thanksgiving feast.

The History Of Date Nut Bread

Before we talk about the history of this bread, we think it’s appropriate to first discuss the history of dates and walnuts. Dates have been cultivated for thousands of years in Iraq, and many food historians believe they have probably been cultivated as far back as 4,000 BC.

During their use in this area, dates found their way into a variety of dishes, including bread. Walnuts are one of the oldest tree nuts cultivated by mankind. Some people believe they date back as far as 7,000 BC. The Romans called this nut Juglans Regia, which means Jupiter’s Royal Acorns.

Walnuts were extensively traded along the Silk Road during this time. Therefore, it’s possible that some form of date nut bread was created during this period. However, the recipe for date nut bread wasn’t published until 1939.

Fun Facts To Share During National Date Nut Bread Day

For everyone clamoring for some tasty facts about date nut bread, all you have to do is check the following information. The bullet points of trivia below are everything we know about date nut bread. We hope you enjoy it.

• There are more than 3,000 different varieties of dates cultivated worldwide.
• There are 15 species of walnuts native to Asia, the Americas, and Europe.
• A 3.5-ounce serving of dates contains approximately 7 grams of fiber.
• Walnuts are a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids.
• Walnuts have been commercially grown in the U.S. since the 1860s.
• California-grown walnuts account for 99% of the United States’ walnut supply.
• Walnuts will go rancid if stored at warm temperatures due to their high level of healthy fats.
• Walnuts can be used to make walnut milk.
• Approximately 3% of the Earth’s farmland is covered by date palms.
• The date palm will grow in alkaline soils.

Observing National Date Nut Bread Day

National Date Nut Bread Day can be enjoyed by baking or buying some date nut bread. If you make a particularly beautiful version of this recipe, don’t forget to use the hashtag #NationalDateNutBreadDay on your social media accounts with a picture of it.