National Bologna Day

National Bologna Day is dedicated to bologna, a smoked and seasoned sausage popular in sandwiches. Although it sometimes is informally spelled as baloney, it takes its name from Bologna, Italy, a city where mortadella, a pork sausage, originated. The bologna sausage derives from mortadella, and is usually made with pork or beef, but can also be made with meats such as chicken, turkey, venison, or with a combination of them, or with soy protein. Seasonings such as black pepper, coriander, celery seed, nutmeg, and allspice are added. Myrtle berries, which are an important flavoring in mortadella, are also used. In the United States, the sausage is finely ground so that fat pieces are not visible.

There are many types of bologna, such as German, Kosher, and Lebanon. Lebanon comes from the Pennsylvania Dutch who live around Pennsylvania, Lebanon, and regular and sweet variations are made. Two manufacturers have been making the bologna in Lebanon County since the late 19th century. Ring bologna has a smaller diameter than regular bologna and is usually sold as a link in the shape of a ring instead of being sliced. Rag bologna is a high fat bologna usually wrapped in a cloth rag. It is native to West Tennessee, and is usually either barbecued with other meats, or eaten on white bread with pickles and mustard. Mustard and pickles are popular add-ons to sandwiches made with other types of bologna as well. Other popular condiments and toppings for bologna sandwiches include mayonnaise, ketchup, cheese, tomatoes, and onions. Bologna sandwiches—both fried and unfried—are quite popular in the Midwest, Appalachia, and the South.

How to Observe National Bologna Day

Celebrate the day by eating bologna. You could eat it on its own or in a sandwich. You could have many things on your sandwich or only include the meat. You could eat it uncooked or fried. There are many bologna recipes you could try, whether they are for sandwiches or something else that calls for bologna.

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