National Date Nut Bread Day is a holiday that’s observed on December 22nd and celebrated delicious bread with a storied history behind it. Date nut bread is a food that’s been made for well over 82-years in Great Britain and Scotland, and might even be older than that. It’s a dish that’s enjoyed in tea rooms across the U.K and can still be seen on the holiday tables for Christmas. It’s also a bread that’s becoming increasingly more popular in the U.S and many Americans have been serving date nut bread with their Thanksgiving feast. 

The History Of Date Nut Bread

Before we talk about the history of this bread, we think it’s appropriate to first talk about the history of dates and walnuts. Dates have been cultivated for thousands of years in Iraq, and many food historians believe that it probably has been cultivated as far back as 4,000 BC. During its use in this area, dates found themselves in a variety of dishes, including bread. 

Walnuts is one of the oldest tree nuts cultivated by mankind. Some people believe that it dates back as far as 7,000 BC. The Romans called this nut Juglans Regia—which means Jupiter’s Royal Acorns. Walnuts were extensively traded along the Silk Road during this time. Therefore, it’s possible that some form of date nut bread was created during this time. However, the recipe for date nut bread wouldn’t end up being published until 1939. 

Fun Facts To Share During National Date Nut Bread Day

For everyone clamoring for some tasty facts about date nut bread, all you have to do is to check the following bit of information. The following bullet points of trivia are everything that we know about date nut bread. We hope you enjoy it. 

• There are more than 3,000 different varieties of dates cultivated worldwide. 
• There are 15 species of walnuts that are native to Asia, the Americas, and Europe.
• A 3.5-ounce serving of dates contains approximately 7-grams of fiber. 
• Walnuts are a good source of Omega-3s.
• Walnuts have been commercially grown in the U.S since the 1860s. 
• California-grown walnuts account for 99% of the United States walnut supply. 
• Walnuts will go rancid if stored in warm temperatures due to their high level of healthy fats.
• Walnuts can be used to make walnut milk.
• Approximately 3% of the Earth’s farmland is covered by date palms. 
• The date palm will grow in alkaline soils. 

Observing National Date Nut Bread Day

National Date Nut Day can be enjoyed by baking or buying some date nut bread. If you make a particularly beautiful version of this recipe, don’t forget to use the hashtag #NationalDateNutDay on your social media accounts with a picture of it.