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It's National Popcorn Day!
Celebrate the treat that satisfies the munchies, sweet or savory, caramelized, buttered or plain, molded into a candied ball, or tossed with nuts and chocolate.
As early as the 16th century, Aztecs used popcorn in headdresses during ceremonies, and early Spanish explorers were fascinated when it burst into what looked like a white flower. Popcorn got popular in the U.S. in the 1800s, but when Charles Cretors, developed a machine for popping corn with steam, the treat became more popular. By 1900 Louise Ruckheim added peanuts and molasses to popcorn to make Cracker Jacks, which boomed in popularity in 1908, when Jack Norworth and Albert Von Tilzer wrote Take Me out to the Ballgame. From that point on, popcorn, was forever married to the game.
Soon movies and theaters became more widespread, when Glen W. Dickson, made the effort of placing machines inside his theaters, and soon after other theater owners followed suit. Mothers would later quickly follow suit when microwave ovens advanced popcorn's popularity, and now Americans consume 13 billion quarts of popcorn a year, the most in the world.
National Popcorn Day became official in 2013, but has been celebrated since at least 1988.