National Homemade Soup Day – February 4, 2025

History of National Homemade Soup Day

Soup has remained a popular dish throughout the globe for many years. However, the European countries were majorly responsible for its origination and growth. Its discovery proved to be vital for restaurants all over the world, as its demand has continuously increased amongst the masses.

Soup dates back as far as about 20,000 B.C. to before the time humans used modern cooking equipment or techniques. Boiling was a common practice in terms of how food was prepared and served. After the discovery of waterproof containers made out of clay, boiling became even more common and humans started cooking plants and animals. A vital element of their diet was liquid containing chunks of vegetables and/or meat. This is how soup came into existence. 

The word ‘soup’ itself originated from the French word ‘soupe,’ which means broth. This French word, in turn, is derived from the Latin word ‘suppa,’ which means a piece of soaked bread. 

In the 18th century, French street vendors started to make and sell high-quality exotic soup dishes called ‘restoratifs,’ which lead to the birth of the first restaurants. Furthermore, in 1765, a particular businessman in Paris opened up a shop that was dedicated entirely to the preparation of good quality soups. Apart from Europe, North America also played a role in the progression of soup. One of the first-ever cookbooks was written by William Parks, which had a great impact amongst the Americans who were interested in cooking. In the book, several chapters included recipes and ways of cooking soup. Emma Pike Ewing wrote an American cooking pamphlet on soups (“Soup and Soup Making”), which was distributed all over the country. Lastly, for better storage, the portable soup was also created in the 18th century, which made soup even more popular.