#7 july

[orenzada-helena]

Bday boooy!

[newyorkthegoldenage]

A city employee cuts the grass in the channel gardens that divide the traffic on Park Avenue near 52nd Street on July 7, 1952. Behind him, at left, is Lever House.

Photo: Associated Press

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EMI Australia: All My Affection from @calumhood's visit to Sydney ❤

Posted 7 July 2025

Is he playing in his socks?

[rabbitcruiser]

National Macaroni Day

Each year, the nation gets its fix of the beloved pasta, macaroni, as we celebrate National Macaroni Day on July 7. This little elbow-shaped pasta is such a fan-favorite that it gets its own day of celebration. As it should! Apparently, macaroni is the most common form of pasta in the U.S. So on this day, let’s all come together to show our love for the humble and versatile macaroni.

History of National Macaroni Day

The origins of pasta, and macaroni, are not very clear. Records indicate pasta might have originated in China, instead of in Italy as is commonly believed.

The word ‘macaroni’ itself has had varied meanings to different people over time. The International Pasta Organisation traced the word to the Greeks who had established the colony of Neopolis (modern-day Naples). They had appropriated a local dish made from barley-flour pasta and water called ‘makaria.’ Cookbooks in the 14th or 15th century contained the initial mentions of macaroni-like dishes and how to make them, but these noodles were much longer than the short elbow macaroni we now use. Recipes in later centuries catered to the tastes and palettes of the regions they came from, and all were slightly different variations of the macaroni we know today.

As more of the world came into contact with various cultures, different types of pasta were introduced to the colonies. People began to fall in love with this doughy noodle. The American Ambassador to France, Thomas Jefferson, first tasted pasta in Naples, Italy. He even brought back a pasta-making machine to the U.S., and this inspired him to design a machine of his own, one with instructions for making pasta. The American love affair with pasta continued to boom throughout the 19th century.

National Macaroni Day timeline

2000 B.C.–10000 B.C.The Greeks Establish a Colony

The Greeks establish a colony in Naples and appropriate a local dish called ‘makaria,’ which might have been the inspiration for the word 'macaroni'.

5000 B.C.Pasta is Born (Maybe)

Some food historians believe pasta originated in this period, in China.

1465First Published Record of Pasta and Cheese

Author and epicure Maestro Martino publishes a landmark cookbook, “Libro de Arte Coquinaria,” which contains several pasta dishes, some paired with cheese.

1789Thomas Jefferson and His Pasta Maker

Thomas Jefferson brings a 'macaroni' maker to the U.S. after he visits Europe as the ambassador to France.

1872Macaroni as We Know It

Author and food historian Paul Imhof believes the world's first commercial production of macaroni as we know it today — short, hollow, and elbow-shaped — was not in Italy but in Switzerland.

1904A Society is Born

The predecessor to today's National Pasta Association — the National Association of Macaroni and Noodle Manufacturers of America — is formed.

National Macaroni Day FAQs

Is macaroni good for health?

The pasta is made from durum wheat, which is a good source of energy and carbs and even has small amounts of fiber. However, the presence of nutrients depends on the manufacturing process of the brand of pasta you choose.

What is the difference between pasta and macaroni?

The only thing differentiating all pasta from macaroni specifically is the shape. Macaroni has a distinctive tube-like shape and is bent like an elbow. Otherwise, even the dough to make pasta is traditionally the same.

Is there a Mac and Cheese Day?

Yes, National Mac and Cheese Day is celebrated on July 14 each year.

How To Celebrate National Macaroni Day

Experiment in the kitchen

Experiment outside the kitchen

Organize a macaroni cook-off

This versatile ingredient can be used in everything from soups and casseroles to hot dishes and salads. So why not go wild experimenting with different ways to play with macaroni recipes. You can make a macaroni-crusted lasagna, a macaroni pizza with the base being baked mac and cheese, or even macaroni and cream dessert. Whether you are a vegetarian or a meat-lover, there is a fun macaroni recipe for everyone to try out.

Macaroni is not just for eating. There are ways to play with it too! For those with kids (or those who are kids at heart), make fun new art and craft projects with macaroni. You can dye the pasta in different colors and string them into jewelry or glue them onto boxes for a DIY decoration project. Let the kids go wild creating their own fabulous works of art!

Challenge friends and family to a friendly macaroni-themed cook-off. The best macaroni dish wins. You can take this one step further and create categories for the most inventive recipes.

5 Fun Facts About Macaroni

Macaroni for breakfast

Macaroni is perfect for cheese

Macaroni as an insult

The macaroni penguin

City rats love macaroni and cheese

This pasta is traditionally eaten for breakfast in Hong Kong and is cooked with mushrooms, peas, ham, eggs, and chicken stock.

Purists swear by macaroni (and shell pasta) as the best pasta to pair with cheese because it has a bigger surface area for the cheese to hold on to compared to long pasta.

In the 1700s, fashionable men who wore expensive Italian clothes were called 'macaronies,' which is another word for 'dandies'.

The distinctive yellow feathered crest on the macaroni penguin’s head that resembles the hats worn by fashionable men from the 1700s inspired this bird's name.

A study by the Animal Behavior Society showed city-dwelling rats prefer macaroni and cheese above anything else.

Why We Love National Macaroni Day

It is a taste of childhood

It makes mealtimes easier

It is oh so delicious

This humble pasta has played a major role in our lives, appearing as comfort food, warming meals when we were sick, and as our kindergarten art. All pasta is mouthwatering, but there is something special about this elbow-shaped one that takes us straight back to our childhood and those fond memories.

Making store-bought macaroni (and other pasta) is extremely easy. Many macaroni-based dishes can be cooked ahead and stored, making mealtimes much less stressful. Macaroni can also be used to stretch the quantity of food to feed more people.

This pasta goes with a lot of different cuisines and ingredients with absolutely no problem and makes it taste even better. On its own, macaroni looks unassuming, but the right flavors turn a simple dish into a powerhouse. We love how this pasta makes us feel like master chefs with very little effort.

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happy Tanabata

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Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland, 7 July 2013

[oediex]

On a walk today, to the sides of a pedestrian-only path, hidden between the grasses, flowers, and brambles, I saw hundreds and hundreds of snails. Their spiral shells were pearly white, and most of them were just lying there, resting, hidden in their chambers. Some of them had houses that were only a couple or so millimetres in diameter. Baby snails. On a few leaves along the 500 metres they were spread out over, were some older, bigger snails, slowly moving about, perhaps in search of a better place to nap. I saw two of them slowly moving about each other, almost like they were hugging or dancing, discovering each other with their small tentacles.

[dateinthelife]

7 July 2010

Paul McCartney surprises Ringo Starr at his 70th birthday concert by joining him on stage and playing "Birthday." He surprises people in the audience by spending the preceding concert acting like a regular audience member and singing along, dancing, and taking photos and video of Ringo on his phone.