Cherry popsicle. Stu Spivack / flickr / 2013 / CC BY-SA 2.0
The 26th of August is Cherry Popsicle Day.
Popsicles® (aka “ice lollies” in England) mean warm summer memories to so many people.
When’s the last time you had a popsicle — any flavour of a popsicle?
Cherry ones have that delicious, sweet cherry flavour, and an eye popping beautiful red colour.
If you’re in the northern hemisphere, August is one of the hottest months of the year and you’ll welcome a popsicle today. If we’re lucky, the day will be perfect popsicle weather, warm and sunny. If you’re in Australia or New Zealand and enjoying winter there, today is a great way to get a taste of summer while waiting for it to return.
Popsicles are one of the all-time favourite summer treats for kids. Even though it’s just flavoured, frozen sugar water, it brings so much pleasure. Popsicles are very refreshing and help to cool you down.
But why “Cherry Popsicle Day” as opposed to “any flavour” Popsicle Day? We’re not sure. If cherry’s not your thing, then heck — treat yourself to a flavour you prefer, instead!
#CherryPopsicleDay #NationalCherryPopsicleDay
See also: Grape Popsicle Day, Cherries, Cherry Pie Day, Cherries Jubilee Day, Cherry Dessert Day, Cherry Turnover Day
Activities for today
- get a twin / double cherry popsicle and split it with a friend;
- you could try making homemade ones today;
- you could cheat and try making them just by freezing some cherry pop;
- look for places handing out free cherry popsicles;
- organize (with permission) a delivery of cherry popsicles to a shelter, a children’s hospital or a community out-reach group to brighten the day for workers and clients / patients.
History
The earliest print mention we’ve been able to find of a Cherry Popsicle Day in August occurred in Edmonton, Alberta, in August 2000:
“Aug. 26 — National Cherry Popsicle Day” — Warwaruk, Jody. Here’s a holiday to make you feel all sweet and gooey. Edmonton, Alberta: The Edmonton Journal. Wednesday, 30 August 2000. Page G2, col. 6.
Literature & Lore
The gaming app “Hay Day” offers players the chance to make, buy and sell cherry popsicles.
The Canadian singer Jann Arden wrote a song called “The Cherry Popsicle Song”.
“I loved you more than anything
I loved you more than anyone
You were the peaches in my cream
You were my setting sun
You were my favorite hockey card
You were my smokey little bar
You were my cherry popsicle
You’ll never ever know”
Jann Arden
Sources
Frey, Debbie. Cherry Popsicles, Smiles and One Humongous Card. New to Waterloo Website. 15 August 2014. Accessed July 2021 at https://www.newtowaterloo.com/new-waterloo-cherry-popsicles-smiles-one-humongous-card/
National Cherry Popsicle Day! University of Maryland, Baltimore County. 26 August 2019. Accessed July 2021 at https://my3.my.umbc.edu/groups/bookstore/events/71940
Staalstrom, Christina. National Cherry Popsicle Day. Miami, Florida: Miami New Times. 26 August 2010. Accessed July 2021 at https://www.miaminewtimes.com/restaurants/national-cherry-popsicle-day-6583657