National Ice Cream Day This Sunday

July is National Ice Cream month and this Sunday, July 21, will mark National Ice Cream Day, a holiday everyone can celebrate.

In 1984, President Ronald Regan designated the month of July as National Ice Cream month and the third Sunday in July to be National Ice Cream Day. President noted that ice cream is a treat enjoyed by 90 percent of Americans and that it deserved a celebration. In the proclamation, Reagan said that the day should be accompanied by "appropriate ceremonies and activities."

Approximately 9 percent of all the milk the nation's dairy farmers produce is used to make ice cream, which contribute significantly to the economic well-being of the dairy industry here in the U.S.

The first advertisement for ice cream in America was in the New York Gazette dated May 12, 1777. Confectioner Phillip Lenzi announced that ice cream would be available at his shop "almost every day." Records show that President George Washington spent $200 on ice cream in the summer 1790 and in 1813 First Lady Dolly Madison served strawberry ice cream at President Madison second inaugural banquet.

Ice cream remained a delicacy for the wealthy and elite in American society well into the early 1800s. When insulated ice houses were invented, ice cream soon became an industry pioneered by a Baltimore milk dealer. As with many other products, ice cream involved with the invention of technologies like steam power and motorized vehicles.

In 1874, the first American soda fountain shop was established. There customers could go and indulge in any ice cream concoction thinkable. In response to religious criticism for eating sinfully rich ice cream "Sunday's" in the late 1890s, the name was eventually changed to "sundae" to prevent any connection with the Sabbath.

During World War II, ice cream became a symbol of troop morale. Each branch of the military would try to outdo the others in serving ice cream to its troops. AT the conclusion of the war, the dairy product ration was lifted in the U.S. and the country celebrated with ice cream. Americans consumed over 20 quarts per person in 1946.

Through the 40s and 70s, ice cream production remained constant and even more products hit grocery store freezers. At this time specialty ice cream shops gained popularity throughout the country and still remain today.

Today there are many types of frozen treats you can pick up at your local scoopstand. Everything from soft serve cones and sundaes to floats, shakes and hard ice cream scoops piled high with toppings of every shape and size. Flavors range from the classics to new and interesting flavor combinations.

The top ten most popular Perry's Ice Cream flavors are as follows (all of which can be found at Mac-A-Doodles in Stamford!):

1. Vanilla

2. Cookie Dough

3. Chocolate

4. Cotton Candy

5. Mint Ting-A-Ling

6. Peanut Butter Cup

7. Panda Paws

8. Strawberry

9. Butter Pecan

10. Maple Walnut

Many of the classic flavors that gave ice cream its start still remain as the most popular today.

So on Sunday when you're recovering from all the weekend fun and need a relief from the heat, take the family out to celebrate one of the most American treats there is and don't forget to add the sprinkles.