Celebrated annually on the second Friday in July, National French Fry Day is an unofficial holiday where people celebrate the tasty, deep-fried potato treat that can be eaten alone, paired with cheeseburgers, or covered in chili and cheese and eaten with a fork. So go ahead and celebrate the salty goodness of this American treat.

The History of French Fries

You may think that French fries are from France, but they are not. They are actually from Belgium. It was during the late 17th century that some ingenious Belgian villagers got the idea to slice potatoes and fry them in the same way they fried fish, their usual dietary staple at the time.

And voilà! The humble French fry was born. During World War I, American soldiers stationed in Belgium were introduced to these tasty fried potatoes for the first time. And since the official language of the Belgian army just so happened to be French, the American soldiers began to call these fried potatoes “French fries.” This is why I’m now telling you that French fries originated in Belgium and not in France.

Today, French fries are enjoyed by people all over the world. In the United States, they are often served with cheeseburgers or hot dogs and are sometimes topped with cheese or chili. In the United Kingdom, they are served with fish in a dish known as fish and chips.

In Canada, French fries are topped with cheese curds and brown gravy in a dish known as poutine. And in the Middle East, French fries are often wrapped in a pita shell with chicken. As you can see, French fries are actually quite a versatile comfort food.

French Fry Facts

• Americans eat over 30 pounds of French fries per person per year.
• French fries are a good source of potassium.
• Thomas Jefferson had his own French fry recipe.
• In Mexico, fries are often served with hot sauce and lemon juice.
• In the U.K., fries are called “chips.”
• In the U.S., “chips” refer to potato chips, which are called “crisps” in the U.K.
• Sugar is often added to fries as well as salt.
• Fries come in over 100 different varieties.

Celebrating National French Fry Day

All you have to do to celebrate National French Fry Day is to pick your favorite type of French fries and enjoy them. Some of the types of fries you have to choose from include waffle cut, Belgian fries, fry wedges, and many others. So if you’re a big fan of French fried potatoes, then celebrate this day with friends and family.