Every October 25th, people around the world celebrate what is arguably one of the best holidays: World Pasta Day. On this day, individuals are encouraged not only to enjoy their tried-and-true pasta favorites but also to be adventurous and try some types of pasta they wouldn’t ordinarily eat during the rest of the year.

It’s estimated that there are at least 350 different types of pasta and approximately 1,400 different names for these types. So, anyone celebrating this holiday has a wide variety of options available for their plate.

The History of World Pasta Day

This holiday was first created by the International Pasta Organization in 1995 after a meeting of the World Pasta Congress. The World Pasta Congress was held in Rome, Italy, on this day in 1995 and brought together over 40 different pasta makers to honor and celebrate pasta. It has been celebrated around the world as a holiday ever since.

Delicious Facts About Pasta

Want some interesting and delicious pasta facts? Of course, you do; otherwise, why would you be here? Below are some of the facts we’ve uncovered while researching World Pasta Day. We hope you find them as tasty as we did.

• The average person living in Italy eats more than 52 pounds of pasta per year.
• The average person living in North America eats about 15.5 pounds of pasta per year.
• The U.S. makes 1.9 million tons of pasta per year, while Italy produces about 3.3 million tons of pasta each year.

Observing World Pasta Day

Sure, anyone wishing to celebrate World Pasta Day can do so by enjoying some of the reliable types of pasta they’re familiar with, such as spaghetti, penne, macaroni, or linguine. However, we encourage everyone to try a type of pasta they might not use on a daily basis.

Unique pastas such as gemelli, mafaldine, cavatappi, or campanelle are worth exploring. Or you can try one of our favorites: radiatori (yes, that’s radiator-shaped pasta) and conchiglie (a delicious shell-shaped pasta). Both types of pasta hold onto sauce well, so next time you observe this holiday, give them a try.