National Lasagna Day
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Overview
National Lasagna Day, observed annually on July 29th, is a celebratory occasion dedicated to the beloved Italian baked pasta dish. It encourages enthusiasts worldwide to indulge in and appreciate the layered masterpiece, whether homemade, from a favorite restaurant, or a classic frozen variety. The day serves as a delicious reminder of lasagna's rich history and enduring popularity as a comfort food staple, inviting people to share their love for this iconic culinary creation.
Origin and story
The word 'lasagna' originally referred to the pot in which the dish was cooked, not the pasta sheets themselves.
While traditionally Italian, ancient Greek and Roman texts describe similar layered dishes with meat and sauces, suggesting a long history of such preparations.
Quick facts
- DateJuly 29
- TypeCultural / community observance
- Great forFriends, Families, Classrooms, Teams
Also on this date
Ways to celebrate
The layered, cheese-and-tomato lasagna on dinner tables today would be unrecognizable to the dish's own medieval namesake.
Trace the name back to ancient Greece
The Greek playwright Aristophanes described a dish called "laganon" in the 5th century BC — flat sheets of pasta dough made from wheat flour and water, boiled and served with cheese and herbs, a clear ancestor of the noodle itself.
Know when it actually became a casserole
The earliest written record of a lasagna-like layered dish appears in the 12th-century Naples cookbook "Liber de Coquina," but it took until 1634 for the first known recipe resembling a filled, baked lasagna to appear, in Giovanni Battista Crisci's "La lucerna de corteggiani."
Read the fuller history
Helpful resources:
Did you know?
The word "lasagna" itself may come from the Roman "lasanum," which originally referred to the cooking pot the dish was served in, not the food itself.
Fun facts
- The word 'lasagna' originally referred to the pot in which the dish was cooked, not the pasta sheets themselves.
- While traditionally Italian, ancient Greek and Roman texts describe similar layered dishes with meat and sauces, suggesting a long history of such preparations.
- Traditional Italian lasagna varies significantly by region; for instance, Lasagna Bolognese from Emilia-Romagna features green pasta, ragù, and béchamel sauce, while Southern Italian versions often include ricotta cheese and tomato sauce.
Sources and attribution
Medieval Lasagna Looked Nothing Like the Comfort Dish We Know Today (Food Republic)
External links may lead to third-party websites.
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FAQ
- When is National Lasagna Day?
- It is observed on July 29 each year.
- What is National Lasagna Day?
- National Lasagna Day, observed annually on July 29th, is a celebratory occasion dedicated to the beloved Italian baked pasta dish. It encourages enthusiasts worldwide to indulge in and appreciate the layered masterpiece, whether homemade, from a favorite restaurant, or a classic frozen variety. The day serves as a delicious reminder of lasagna's rich history and enduring popularity as a comfort food staple, inviting people to share their love for this iconic culinary creation.
- How do people celebrate National Lasagna Day?
- Bake a lasagna and trace its name back to ancient Greek 'laganon,' flat sheets of pasta described by Aristophanes in the 5th century BC — centuries before it became the layered, baked dish known today.
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