Lions, tigers, camels and bears: animal crackers turn snack time into a trip to the zoo. National Animal Crackers Day, on April 18, celebrates these crunchy, lightly sweet cookies shaped like animals. Loved by generations of children and nostalgic adults, they are perfect for lunchboxes, games and creative snacks. Many people still bite off the heads first.
History of National Animal Crackers Day
Animal-shaped cookies were made in England in the 1800s and imported to the United States. American bakeries began producing their own versions in the late 1800s.
In 1902, the National Biscuit Company, later known as Nabisco, introduced its famous animal crackers in a small box designed to look like a circus wagon, with a string handle so it could be hung on a Christmas tree as an ornament. The packaging made the snack a hit and a classic. Over the years, the animals inside have changed, with dozens of different animals appearing.
In 2018, the box design was updated to show the animals roaming free instead of in cages, after an animal welfare group asked for the change. Animal crackers have also appeared in popular culture, including a 1930s song sung by child star Shirley Temple. Who created National Animal Crackers Day is not documented.
Why National Animal Crackers Day Matters
Animal crackers are a fun, nostalgic snack that can also be educational, helping young children learn animal names and sounds.
They also show how clever packaging and design can turn a simple product into an icon.
Animal crackers also show how food and culture change together. The 2018 redesign of the famous box, which removed the cages from the illustration, reflected changing attitudes toward animals in circuses. A small snack box became part of a larger conversation about animal welfare, giving parents and teachers an easy way to start that discussion with children.
How to Celebrate National Animal Crackers Day
- Snack and learn: identify each animal before eating it.
- Make a habitat: create a zoo scene on a plate.
- Dip them: try animal crackers dipped in chocolate or frosting.
- Bake your own: use animal-shaped cookie cutters.
- Play a game: sort animals by type or make up stories.
Celebrating at Work, School and Home
At work, a jar of animal crackers on the break table is a nostalgic treat. In classrooms, animal crackers are a fun teaching tool: young students can sort them by animal type, count them, graph which animals appear most often, or use them to start a lesson on habitats. At home, families can make animal cracker 'parfaits' with yogurt and fruit, play guessing games, or bake homemade animal cookies. Check ingredient labels for allergies.
Fun Facts About National Animal Crackers Day
- Nabisco's circus-wagon box debuted in 1902.
- The box had a string so it could hang on a Christmas tree.
- In 2018, the box design changed to show animals without cages.
National Animal Crackers Day FAQs
When is National Animal Crackers Day?
National Animal Crackers Day is April 18.
When did animal crackers become popular?
Nabisco introduced its famous circus-box crackers in 1902.
Why did the box have a string?
So it could be hung as a Christmas tree ornament.
Are animal crackers cookies or crackers?
They are technically cookies, lightly sweetened.