The first Friday in June is National Doughnut Day. But that’s not the only National Doughnut Day. Confused? Here are some deep-fried facts about doughnuts that will hopefully clear things up for you. Let’s start with the spelling.

• Doughnut or Donut?

  

  (Photo by Joanne K. Watson/Merriam-Webster via Getty Images)

  • “Doughnut” is actually proper, but “donut” is acceptable. If you look in older dictionaries, you’ll only find “doughnut.” However, Merriam-Webster’s dictionary now lists “donut” as a variant of “doughnut.”

• Doughnuts Through History

  

  (Photo by Reg Speller/Fox Photos/Getty Images)

  • Hanson Gregory, an American, claimed to have invented the ring-shaped doughnut in 1847 aboard a lime-trading ship when he was 16 years old.
  • The Salvation Army Doughnut Lassies made and delivered doughnuts to soldiers on the front lines of World War I. Up to 9,000 doughnuts were served to the troops daily.
  • In 1920, Russian-born Adolph Levitt created the first doughnut-making machine in New York City.

• National Doughnut Day

  

  Chicago, circa 1935 (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

  • The first Friday in June and November 5th are National Doughnut Day.
  • National Doughnut Day was officially established in 1938 by the Chicago Salvation Army to raise much-needed funds during the Great Depression.

• U.S. vs. Canada

  

  (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

  • The U.S. doughnut industry is worth 3.6-billion dollars.
  • America produces more than 10-billion doughnuts every year.
  • Boston, Massachusetts has the most doughnut shops per capita in the U.S. and is home to Dunkin’ Donuts.
  • However, Canada has more doughnut shops per capita than any other country. Tim Hortons is the preferred brand up there.

• Giant Jelly

  

  (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

  • The largest doughnut ever made was an American-style jelly doughnut weighing 1.7-tons, which was 16-feet in diameter and 16-inches high in the center.

• Haight Loves Doughnuts

  

  (Photo by Tim Boyle/Getty Images)

  • The Guinness World Record for doughnut eating is held by John Haight, who scarfed down 29 doughnuts in just over six minutes.

• Calories, Schmalories

  

  (Photo by Stephen Chernin/Getty Images)

  • There are roughly 200 calories in the average doughnut. But who wants an average doughnut?
  • In the old days, doughnuts were fried in lard. These days, most doughnuts are fried in healthier oils.

• Say My Name

  

  (Photo by Bruno Vincent/Getty Images)

  • According to the Salvation Army, thirteen people in the United States are actually named ‘Donut.’ If I were one of them, I would have my last name legally changed to ‘Shop.’

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