January 15, 2023 - National Hat Day | National Bagel Day

Welcome to January 15th, 2023 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate causing a stir and the wise guys of bagel making. On this day in 1797, John Hetherington—a London hat maker—stepped out into the street wearing his latest creation. A top hat. According to reports, Mr. Hetherington “appeared on the public highway wearing upon his head what he called a silk hat (which was of a shiny lustre and calculated to frighten timid people)”… Officers of the Crown stated that several women fainted at the unusual sight, while children screamed, dogs yelped and a boy was thrown down by the crowd…and had his right arm broken.” Mr. Hetherington was brought up on charges of inciting a riot and fined 500 Pounds. On National Hat Day, put on your favorite hat and try not to cause a stir. The bagel makers of New York in the early 1900s were nothing to mess with. Referred to as the bagel mafia, these men conducted business in Yiddish to keep their trade secrets a secret. Bagel making was hard labor and the conditions of most shops were actually quite appalling, but in the 1930s Bagel Bakers Local 338 Union changed everything. These elite bakers tested their benchmen for 6 months until they could roll 832 bagels per hour. And, when workers went on strike in the 1950s, all but 2 bagel bakeries in Manhattan had to close, leading to what was called a Bagel Famine. Today bagels can be found almost anywhere thanks to the Lender family who automated the process, but on National Bagel Day, we celebrate the tough guys who made these chewy wonders part of the American Dream. I’m Anna Devere and I’m Marlo Anderson. Thanks for joining us as we Celebrate Every Day! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices