January 7, 2023 - National Tempura Day | National Bobblehead Day

Welcome to January 7th, 2023 on the National Day Calendar. Today we celebrate delicious imports and wobbly heads. In the mid 16th century Nagasaki, Japan was a closed-port to most of the world, but the Portuguese were allowed to bring in Catholicism and with it, a food that they made during lent. The name tempura actually comes from the Latin quattuor anni tempora or Days of Ember when no red meat was eaten. The origins of these fritters likely came from Indian pakora, but the Japanese love for fresh foods put a lighter spin on the dish. As strange as it sounds, Japan had no tradition of frying food before this time. Today, tempura is a fundamental culinary technique that we celebrate on National Tempura Day. Bobbleheads have been around since the 18th Century. They were brought to Europe from China, where they were known as temple nodders or nodding head figures. But the bobbleheads we treasure today, first became popular in the 1960s. That’s when sports teams began depicting their mascots and famous players like Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays. The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame Museum houses the world’s largest collection and if you happen to be in Milwaukee you can drop in to see the exhibits. You could even celebrate with a custom made figure of yourself as long as you don’t let it go to your head on National Bobblehead Day. 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