Tin Can Day
This holiday is featured in the Obscure Holiday Calendar app with emoji-style visuals, reminders, and daily fun facts.
Overview
Tin Can Day, celebrated annually on January 19th, commemorates the day British merchant Peter Durand received the patent for the tin can in 1810. This pivotal invention revolutionized food preservation, making it possible to store food for extended periods and transport it globally. The tin can significantly impacted military logistics, long-distance exploration, and global diets by providing access to off-season and non-local foods.
Observed each year on January 19, Tin Can Day invites people to pause, share the story, and bring a little themed joy to their day.
Origin and story
Peter Durand patented the tin can in 1810 in England, adapting Nicolas Appert's food preservation method for a more durable container made of tin-plated iron.
For nearly 50 years after its invention, there was no dedicated can opener; people often used chisels, hammers, or bayonets to open the robust early cans.
Quick facts
- DateJanuary 19
- TypeCultural / community observance
- Great forFriends, Families, Classrooms, Teams
Also on this date
Ways to observe
- Learn about the history of canned food.
- Cook a meal using canned ingredients.
- Donate canned goods to a food bank.
- Organize your pantry.
- Rinse and recycle empty cans.
- Learn about metal recycling processes.
Fun facts
- Despite the name, most tin cans today are made from steel coated with a thin layer of tin.
Sources and attribution
History of Canning (Smithsonian National Museum of American History)
Food Canning Explained (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
External links may lead to third-party websites.
Continue to
FAQ
- When is Tin Can Day?
- It is observed on January 19 each year.
- What is Tin Can Day?
- Tin Can Day, celebrated annually on January 19, commemorates the day British merchant Peter Durand received the patent for the tin can in 1810. This pivotal invention revolutionized food preservation, making it possible to store food for extended periods and transport it globally. The tin can significantly impacted military logistics, long-distance exploration, and global diets by providing access to off-season and non-local foods.
- How do people observe Tin Can Day?
- Learn about canned food history and organize your pantry.
Get the app
Thousands of obscure holidays, daily widgets, reminders, and fun facts—free on iOS and Android.