National Milk Day is celebrated on January 11 in the US, as it was when milk was first delivered to homes in sterilized glass bottles and sealed with wax paper.
It’s not the only day of the year the world celebrates milk, but for the US, National Milk day is today!
But how do we celebrate this day & what else do you know about milk? Here are some facts about National Milk Day in the United States!
History of National Milk Day
Alexander Campbell was the owner of New York Dairy, and according to Shatto Home Delivery, he made the first delivery of milk stored in sterilized glass bottles on January 11, 1878.
But before this time, a milkman would only bring a bulk container for milk. People would then use any container to store the milk, which was, of course, unsanitary.
Today, National Milk Day isn’t only celebrated for milk served in sterilized glass bottles anymore.
It’s also celebrated to recognize the dairy research made by Land-grant Universities.
An example is research from the University of New Hampshire about feeding seaweeds to dairy cows to reduce methane emissions when cows burp.
Bonus Fact: Shatto Home Delivery is a company that aims to preserve the tradition of milkmen delivering milk in glass bottles to homes.
How To Celebrate National Milk Day
Drink a Glass of Milk
The simplest way to celebrate National Milk Day is to drink a glass of milk, preferably from a glass bottle.
You can even try posting your glass of milk on social media to let other people know you’re celebrating a unique holiday.
For example, go to Twitter and tweet an image of you holding a glass of milk with the hashtag #NationalMilkDay.
Chug a Gallon of Milk
If you want to spice things up, chugging a gallon of milk could be an option for celebrating National Milk Day!
But of course, just like chugging beer, chugging a gallon of milk can be bad for your health despite appearing fun… for younger people, at least.
It can lead to diarrhea, bloating, and constipation.
Plus, chugging a gallon of milk is extremely difficult to do without you throwing up!
A quick search about milk chugging on YouTube will show you a ton of people trying this challenge that ended up puking!
Try Milking a Cow
Milking a cow by hand was prevalent in the 1800s, the same century when National Milk Day originated.
So, think of celebrating National Milk Day by milking a cow just like people did in the past!
The greatest difficulty with this is finding a cow! You will need to research farms that allow people to milk their cows. But to make things a little bit easier for you, some places allow you to milk cows by hand!
For example, on Airbnb, you can find a homestead or farmhouse that lets you experience cow milking by hand for around $20 – $30.
National Milk Day FAQs
Is National Milk Day always celebrated on January 11?
For the United States, yes. However, National Milk Day in India is a celebration every November 26. It’s celebrated on this day because this is the birth anniversary of Dr. Verghese Kurien, whom they call the “Father of the White Revolution” or the “Milkman of India,” who helped India become the largest milk producer in the world.
How does National Milk Day differ from World Milk Day?
World Milk Day is commemorated to show the importance of milk and the dairy sector. It was created by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in 2001 and is celebrated on June 1st. The FAO also launched World School Milk Day in 2000, celebrated every last Wednesday of September.
5 Fast Facts About Milk
- Pasteurization is what removes harmful bacteria in milk. It works by heating the milk at high temperatures for a couple of minutes or seconds, depending on how high the temperature is, then cooling it afterward.
- The sugar found in milk is lactose. It can be digested by humans thanks to an enzyme called lactase. And when a person’s body doesn’t produce enough of this lactase, they become lactose-intolerant.
- Milk is one of the most nutritious beverages in the world. And although there are different types of milk, most are rich in calcium, protein, and B vitamins that are vital for reducing extreme tiredness.
- About 87% to 90% of water in milk makes it a good drink for hydration. Milk is also a good source of hydration because it contains electrolytes that replace the ones lost in sweat – this is why sports drinks have electrolytes too!
- Milk is white because of a protein called casein that forms casein micelles with the help of calcium and phosphate. This casein micelle reflects all wavelengths, which causes the milk to appear white – an object will appear black if it absorbs all wavelengths.
National Milk Day is one of the many special holidays that reminds us to be thankful for the good things people have done in the past.
From putting milk in bottles to killing harmful germs, these are some topics worth discussing on January 11.
Celebrate it however you like, but don’t forget to use this day to encourage other people to drink milk… except for those who are lactose-intolerant or allergic to milk.
