National Pasta Day October 17, 2022, history, significance
Fusilli, Penne, Spaghetti, Capellini and Fettuccine, pasta comes in a myriad of shapes and sizes. Pasta acts as a sort of blank canvas for the almost infinite variety of sauces that can be made to pair with them.
And National Pasta Day is the perfect time to learn more about and celebrate all things pasta!
History of National Pasta Day
Historians don’t completely agree on the origins of pasta. Many people believe that pasta originated in Italy, while others say that it came all the way from China when Marco Polo was on his adventures in the 13th century.
Still other historians claim that pasta is actually much older than that, to the 4th century BC. In fact, in the place that is now Italy, an Etruscan tomb shows pictures of natives making something that appears to be pasta.
Even Greek mythology gets involved in the stories about the origination of pasta. The god Hephaestus, known as Vulcan, made a device that would create long strands of dough, which some people think may have been a version of pasta or spaghetti.
Not long before he became the President of the United States, Thomas Jefferson is believed to have brought pasta to the US after a trip to Paris in the late 1780s. After eating what he referred to as “macaroni” in France, Jefferson brought two cases back with him and helped influence its popularity in America.
National Pasta Day Timeline
4th Century BC
Pasta is traced back to Etruscan civilization
The Etruscan civilization shows evidence of people making pasta in the area that is now known as Italy.
12th Century AD
Pasta-like noodles are made in China
During the Shang Dynasty, in what is now Northern China, noodles are made from rice or wheat flour.
16th Century AD
First pasta maker in Italy
Beginning at the court of Ferrara and then adopted by the Neopolitans, the pasta maker Christoforo Messisbugo documents what he refers to as the ”macaroni invention”.
Late 1780s
Thomas Jefferson brings pasta to the US
After an extended trip to Paris, the future US President brings crates of pasta back from Europe to America.
1877
Barilla Pasta Company is founded
Founded in Parma, Italy, the Barilla company will eventually become the largest pasta company in the world.
How to Celebrate National Pasta Day
Get into the spirit of this delightful day by inviting friends and family to enjoy and celebrate National Pasta Day in a variety of ways. Consider taking part in some of these ideas, or come up with some of your own:
Enjoy Eating Pasta
Of course, National Pasta Day is the right time to enjoy eating some pasta! And the great thing is that there are so many different options of ways to enjoy pastas.
Invite some friends or family members over for a meal and experiment with some new and interesting recipes for pasta. Try out some unique ideas for making sauces for pasta, such as these:
- Truffle Cream Pasta Sauce. Enjoy this exquisite sauce made from special truffle oil, heavy cream, butter and Parmesan cheese. Serve it on penne or linguini.
- Frutti de Mare Pasta Sauce. A seafood based pasta sauce, the name literally means “fruit of the sea”. The sauce is fairly quick to cook up, including mussels, wild shrimp and squid tentacles that are cooked in a base made from white wine, basil, garlic and arrabbiata tomato sauce. Serve on long noodles like spaghetti or fettuccine.
- Arrabbiata Pasta Sauce. A simple sauce made from tomatoes, garlic and dried chili peppers, this one is delicious when cooked in olive oil. This type of sauce originates from the region of Rome and is a classic sauce that can be served on almost any pasta, from spaghetti to zucchini noodles.
- Salsa di Noci Pasta Sauce. This rich and creamy pasta sauce is made from cream, walnuts, Pecorino Romano cheese and fresh herbs. Serve the sauce of short, freshly-made pastas.
Learn Fun Facts About Pasta
Enjoy National Pasta Day and spread the word to friends and family members by sharing various delightful bits of trivia. Try out some of these fun facts to get started:
The average person living in Italy eats approximately 51 pounds of pasta every year!
Italy produces approximately 2.75 million tons of pasta each year, while the United States produces around 1.9 million tons annually.
At least 600 different shapes of pasta are made all around the world, and each type has its own purpose.
Before pasta machines were invented, the dough for pasta was kneaded by foot as workers would walk over large batches of the dough!
