Soup Swap Day is celebrated on the third Saturday of January, which falls on January 18 this year. Soup is a beloved and popular appetizer, has its origin in Latin and is derived from the word ‘suppa’ meaning bread soaked in broth. On Soup Swap Day, people come together for a soup party and everyone brings their favourite soup and exchanges it with others. It is a perfect day midst of winter to join together with family and friends and have a tasty hot soup of every type.
History of Soup Swap Day
Soups are popular appetizers which are known rich in nutrients and energy. They are also among the oldest food items that are still consumed even today, with evidence of their existence dating back to around 20,000 B.C.
Soups are both clear and thick soups which can be served hot or cold, depending on the location and occasion. We can cook soup using several ingredients like vegetables, meat, fish, and even fruits.
Historians trace the evidence of soups back to around 20,000 B.C., but most sources agree that soups became widely popular between 5,000 and 9,000 years ago.
Moreover, soups are mostly liquid and typically used as an appetizer. We can cook soup by boiling vegetables or meat at a high temperature which helps preserve the nutrient content of the soups.
Soups are generally given to people with illnesses like the flu. Similarly, soup is the best choice for people living in cold regions. Ingredients for soup are easily available on the market. You can prepare soup by incorporating water or milk into the canned soup and heating it. Soup is a simple dish to prepare in the kitchen.
Knox Gardner started the tradition of soup-swapping with his friends in the 1990s. By around 2006, the practice gained popularity thanks to bloggers and the internet.
Today, soup swapping day has attracted widespread attention, with people from around the world celebrating it. It’s a great opportunity to gather with friends or neighbours and exchange soups with each other.
Also read, National Espresso Day – November 23, 2024
Timeline of Soup Swap Day
| 20,000 B.C. (The First Appearance of Soup) | Archeologists find one of the earliest examples of a bowl used to make soup in China. |
| 1400 A.D. (Soup Spoon) | Europeans start using the spoon to drink soup. |
| 1786 (The First Restaurant) | Luxury restaurants in Paris inspire the development of modern soups. |
| 1897 (Condensed Soup) | Dr. John T. Dorrance, a chemist at the Campbell Soup Company, creates the first condensed soup. |
| 2006 (Soup Swapping) | Soup swapping day has become popular among soup lovers. |
5 Important Facts About Soups
- Hippopotamus soup: It is one of the first soups ever recorded and it was around 6000 years ago.
- Expensive soup: The restaurant named Kai Mayfair makes the most expensive soup in the world.
- Healthy and veggie: Vegetable soup is often regarded as the healthiest soup.
- Popular chicken soup: Chicken noodle soup is the most popular in America.
- Largest soup: DENK Communicatie prepared 7,042.3 gallons of soup, making it the largest soup in the world.
Frequently Ask Question
When is Soup Swap Day celebrated?
Soup Swap Day is celebrated on the second Saturday of January annually.
How did Soup Swap Day originate?
The tradition of Soup Swap Day started in 2002, inspired by a group of friends who wanted to share their favourite soup recipes and encourage communal cooking.
You may also like to read, National Fresh Squeezed Juice Day – January 15, 2025
