Chinese Fortune Cookie Day
About Chinese Fortune Cookie Day
When is Fortune Cookie Day? This holiday is always observed on September 13
This is going to be your lucky day! Today is Chinese Fortune Cookie Day, a September 13 holiday. This day celebrates the creation of the Fortune Cookie. What a great cookie. A little slip of paper inside of it brings you good luck, a whimsical saying, or a philosophical thought. We prefer the “good luck” fortunes. …we can use all the good luck we can get.
It’s pretty clear that the Fortune Cookie did not originate in China. Rather, it was invented in California. There appears to be some uncertainty over who invented it. Some historical references suggest it was Makoto Hagiwara who invented the fortune cookie at the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco in 1914. Others believe that David Jung, founder of the Hong Kong Noodle Company, was the first to make fortune cookies in Los Angeles in the 1920s.
To celebrate this day, go grab a handful of fortune cookies. Or, get your fill online. Online cookies have no calories or carbs.
Fortune Cookie Day Trivia
- Fortune cookies are not a creation of China.
- They were first made in California.
- It is believed they were created by Japanese immigrants to America in the late 1800s or early 1900s.
- Fortune cookies evolved from Japanese cookies.
- There are only four ingredients: flour, sugar, vanilla, and oil.
- It is estimated that over 4 million fortune cookies are made each day.
- Fortune cookies give positive, optimistic fortunes. People would not want them if they were pessimistic or foretold bad news.
- Fortune cookies get their shape after baking. Immediately and quickly after removing them from the oven, they are folded into a curved shape and a fortune is inserted while the cookie is still pliable.
- Wonton Food Company is the largest manufacturer of fortune cookies. They have an inventory of 15,000 fortunes.
- It is somewhat of a tradition for friends to read the fortune out loud and add the words “in Bed” at the end of the fortune. The resulting statement is often hilarious.
- The fortune cookie-making machine was invented in 1964. Before this, they were made by hand.
- Most fortune cookie manufacturers put lucky lottery numbers on the back of each fortune. And, the numbers have produced winners.
- Wonton Food Company allows you to pick the color of the cookie and to order a customized fortune.
How to Participate in Fortune Cookie Day
Like other food holidays, participating in this holiday is easy and delicious.
- Eat a fortune cookie. Read your fortune. Will it come true? only time will tell.
- Give fortune cookies to family or friends.
- Grab an online fortune cookie.
Today's Quote
“Fortune favors the prepared mind.” – – Louis Pasteur
History and Origin of Fortune Cookie Day
We are not certain of the origin of this day. From our research, someone who wanted to recognize and share the good feeling this cookie brings to people most likely created it. Our extensive research uncovered lots of information about the origin of the fortune cookies (as described above).
Documentation for the date of this day is all over the map. A large majority of sources declare Fortune Cookie Day as September 13th. We did find one reference to this day in April, June, July, and August.
This Day in History
Here are a couple of things that happened on Fortune Cookie Day:
- New York City becomes the Capitol of the United States. I bet you didn’t know that! (1788)
- Nintendo introduces the first Super Mario game. (1985)
- Walter Reed, army physician, bacteriologist, Walter Reed Hospital in D.C. named in his honors was born on this day in 1851.
Online Fortune Cookies
Find your fortune with these online Cookies from China Unique, home of Panda Mania
Fortune Pumpkin -a novel way to get your fortune cookie
The Fortune Turkey– get your fortune from a turkey!? Why not?
Related Holidays
Besides Fortune Cookie Day, there are many cookie holidays. Here are a few of them:
More September 13 Holidays
Here are more September 13 holidays for you to celebrate and enjoy:
Uncle Sam Day – His image was first used in 1813.
More About Today
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Flower of the Day: Wallflower
This Day in History – Indeed, many other important events occurred on this date. See what happened on this date in history.
Famous Birthdays – Did you ever wonder what famous people share your birth date? If so, then find out now!
Ecards Send a free Ecard daily for just about any September calendar holiday, occasion, observance, or event. Or, just for the fun of it!
Holiday Insights, where every day in September is a holiday, a bizarre or wacky day, an observance, or a special event. Join us in the daily calendar fun each and every day of the year.
Did You Know? In addition to Fortune Cookie Day, there are literally thousands of daily holidays, special events, and observances, more than one for every day of the year. Many of these holidays are new. People and organizations are creating new holidays regularly. September holidays are no exception. Consequently., at Holiday Insights, we take great efforts to thoroughly research and document the details of each one, as completely and accurately as possible.