National French Fried Shrimp Day
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Overview
National French Fried Shrimp Day, observed every December 21, celebrates a dish with roots that reach back nearly 1,700 years before anyone owned a deep fryer.
Origin and story
Shrimp has been eaten since prehistory, and the Romans were especially fond of it: the 4th- or 5th-century cookbook attributed to Marcus Gavius Apicius describes Romans roasting shrimp and drizzling honey over it, while Greeks wrapped large shrimp in fig leaves to cook.
In the United States, shrimp didn't become a cookbook staple until after the Civil War, when canning made it widely available starting in 1865, giving rise to shrimp salad and, later, the shrimp cocktail.
Quick facts
- DateDecember 21
- TypeFood / Seafood
- Great forSeafood lovers, Foodies, Families
Also on this date
Ways to celebrate
Fried shrimp didn't become a weeknight staple because of a genius chef — it became one because of the freezer aisle.
From Roman banquets to shrimp cocktail
Shrimp has a documented culinary history stretching back to at least the 4th or 5th century AD, when the Roman cookbook attributed to Marcus Gavius Apicius described Romans roasting shrimp and glazing it with honey, while Greeks preferred wrapping large shrimp in fig leaves. In the United States, shrimp was eaten locally for centuries wherever it was fished, but it didn't become a national cookbook fixture until after the Civil War, when canning made it available nationwide starting in 1865. Shrimp salad, piled on lettuce with a mayonnaise dressing, became especially popular with women of the era, and by the 1910s, shrimp cocktail — served with a tangy sauce instead of mayonnaise — had become a fixture at upscale banquets.
Why fried shrimp took until after World War II
Fried shrimp is believed to have first appeared on restaurant menus in the early 20th century, but the breaded version most people know today didn't become widely popular until after World War II ended in 1945, once pre-cooked frozen shrimp started appearing on grocery store shelves. That made shrimp dinners cheap and easy enough to spread to drive-ins nationwide. Today, Americans harvest more than 650 million pounds of shrimp domestically each year and import roughly 200 million more, making it the country's favorite seafood.
Ways to mark the day
- Fry shrimp at home, or try air-frying it for a lighter version.
- Compare a classic shrimp cocktail to a fried shrimp basket side by side.
- Share the Roman honey-glazed shrimp detail with someone at dinner — most people assume fried shrimp is a purely modern dish.
Helpful resources: National Today, "National French Fried Shrimp Day".
Did you know?
Mechanical shrimp harvesting began in America in 1917, the same era that the now-classic shrimp cocktail is believed to have been invented.
Fun facts
- National Day Calendar and other holiday trackers list the observance on December 21 each year, with reports suggesting it was first celebrated around the year 2000.
- Deep-frying shrimp typically involves coating them in batter or breadcrumbs, and a common home-cooking twist is air frying for a lighter version.
- Shrimp is one of the most popular seafoods consumed in the United States, making fried shrimp a widely enjoyed dish year-round.
- The dish is a staple on many American restaurant menus, from casual seafood shacks to sit-down eateries, and is often served with dipping sauces like cocktail or tartar.
- The holiday falls on the same date as the winter solstice, giving seafood fans a warm, comforting meal to enjoy on one of the year's shortest days.
Sources and attribution
Primary source: National Today, "National French Fried Shrimp Day".
External links may lead to third-party websites.
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FAQ
- When is National French Fried Shrimp Day?
- It is observed on December 21 each year.
- What is National French Fried Shrimp Day?
- National French Fried Shrimp Day celebrates one of America's most beloved seafood dishes: shrimp coated in batter or breading and deep-fried to a golden crunch. It's a day for seafood lovers to enjoy fried shrimp at home or at their favorite restaurants.
- How do people celebrate National French Fried Shrimp Day?
- People eat fried shrimp and learn its long backstory: Ancient Romans roasted and honey-glazed shrimp as early as the 4th century AD, and breaded fried shrimp didn't become an everyday American dish until frozen, pre-cooked shrimp hit grocery stores after World War II.
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