It's National Doughnut Day, Get Your Free Doughnut

Photo credit: Wiki Commons

By LANNING TALIAFERRO (Patch Staff)

The delicious fried sugary glory that is the doughnut is surely something to celebrate.

The history of National Doughnut Day is succinctly recounted on Cute Calendar. In a nutshell: the Salvation Army started this whole thing off in 1938 in Chicago as a fundraiser-plus-commemoration of the women who served doughnuts to members of our armed services in WWI.

What’s the most popular doughnut?

That question was asked on ChaCha, and the Internet answer site declared it to be the classic glazed.

That means it is baked with yeast, is dipped in a glaze that usually includes honey as one of the ingredients, and has the shape known in the biz as the toroidal ring.

But we are eating fewer donuts these days. The baking industry noted a 4 percent decline in doughnut sales in 2012, AIB International said, citing Milling & Baking News.

Stop that dangerous downward trend!

Fast-food giant Dunkin’ Donuts is celebrating as it has since 2009, by offering customers a free donut with a purchase of any beverage. Customers can select a donut of their choosing (while supplies last).

Use the company’s store locator if you don’t already know the way.

The same goes with Krispy Kreme, check out which stores are offering free donuts Friday here.

Of course, you could instead grab a glazed off the tray at your favorite deli. Or check in with your local bakery to see if they’re producing the delicious fried sugary glory on Friday.

PS. It’s doughnut (for your next bar bet).

VISUALS: video from samedia .org