Nothing compares to the first bite of a warm, toasted bagel slathered with cream cheese. Whether you prefer plain or everything, lox or a classic schmear, sesame or cinnamon raisin, the possibilities are endless on National Bagel Day! If your morning isn’t complete without toasted perfection, then this is the food holiday for you.
The History of Bagels
National Bagel Day is exactly what it sounds like — a day to celebrate bagels! The doughy invention was actually out of necessity. Bagels were created in 17th century Poland as a response to anti-Semitic laws preventing Polish Jews from baking bread. Jewish bakers circumvented these restrictions by boiling the dough before baking it. Then Polish-Jewish immigrants brought the bagel with them when they immigrated in the 1800s. Bagels became a New York City staple in the early 1900s, when the first Bagel unions formed. The union helped establish better working conditions, regulated the bagel-making process, and promoted the expansion of the bagel industry.
In the 1950’s, the first commercially viable bagel rolling machine revolutionized the bagel industry. This innovation produced twice as many bagels with half the labor as hand-rolling, making bagels more accessible and affordable to the general public. Speaking of which, in the 1960’s, Lender’s Bagels pioneered the technique of freezing bagels and shipping them to grocery stores across the US. This introduced bagels to consumers across the US, and Murray Lender’s marketing efforts popularized them outside of Jewish communities.
National Bagel Day Deals 2025
Here’s where Coupon Cabin says you can score the most delicious bagel deals on Wednesday, January 15, 2025.
- Bagel Boss: In honor of National Bagel Day, customers can win one dozen bagels a month for a whole year from Bagel Boss. You can enter the raffle online! One lucky winner will be announced on January 15. Customers can also use the code NBD10 to get 10% off their purchase this year.
- Barry Bagels: Based in Michigan and Ohio, Barry Bagels is giving away a free bagel and cream cheese when you purchase one bagel and cream cheese with a drink.
- Bruegger’s Bagels: When you join the Inner Circle Rewards Club, you’ll receive a free bagel of your choice topped with your favorite cream cheese. If you’re already a rewards member, you’ll receive an offer for a free bagel and cream cheese in your account on January 15.
- Einstein Bagels: Einstein Bagels is celebrating National Bagel Day with a free egg sandwich when you join the Schmear Society Rewards program.
- Ess-A-Bagel: If you order through Goldbelly, you can get 6 free bagels at Ess-A-Bagel when you buy the New York Bagel Brunch Special, including New York bagels, lox and cream cheese.
- Joe’s Bagel and Grill: If you buy one dozen bagels from Joe’s Bagel and Grill, you’ll receive four free bagels. The popular bagel shop has a few different spots in Belmar, Beachwood and other locations.
- Manhattan Bagel: Join the eClub at Manhattan Bagel to take advantage of the National Bagel Day deal. Customers can get a free bagel and cream cheese of their choice on January 15.
- Noah’s NY Bagels: Customers can get a free bagel and schmear when they sign up for the Noah’s Rewards program at Noah’s NY Bagels. Choose from popular options like Everything or Onion.
- Panera: All MyPanera+ members can get a free bagel every month! Sign up for the club to get your choice of a complimentary plain, asiago or cinnamon raisin bagel. Members also get free coffee.
- Philadelphia Cream Cheese: A bagel isn’t complete without cream cheese. On National Bagel Day, Philadelphia Cream Cheese is giving away a free tub of cream cheese. You can visit the website to enter your name in the giveaway.
- Starbucks: Sign up to become a Starbucks Rewards member, and you’ll receive a free choice of drink or food item on your birthday every year, which includes a delicious bagel.
- The Bagel Nook: The Bagel Nook is celebrating National Bagel Day with a contest. You can visit the company’s Instagram page and enter to win a $50 gift card for The Bagel Nook.
- Thomas’ Bagel: Thomas’ Bagels has donated $100,000 to Operation Warm, a nonprofit charity that donates winter coats to kids in need. You can support the company by purchasing its bagels.
Fun Facts About Bagels
Round bagels only. The word “bagel” comes from the German term “bougel” meaning bracelet. It is only considered a bagel if it’s in the shape of a circle!
Bagels went to space. In 2008, astronaut Gregory Chamitoff journeyed to space and brought 18 sesame bagels from a Montreal bakery with him.
The biggest bagel weighed 868 pounds. Popular bagel shop Bruegger’s Bagels made an enormous bagel, weighing in at 868 pounds, to be displayed at the New York State Fair in 2004.
Bagels are famous in Montreal. Most people think of New York City when thinking about bagels, but Montreal bagels are famous around the world. They’re a bit sweeter than NYC bagels because they’re soaked in honey before being baked.
The holes have a purpose. The holes in bagels make them bake faster! They also allow them to be displayed on a dowel, or wooden pole, which came in handy years ago.
Everything bagels by accident. Legend has it that the Everything bagel was created when a teenage baker swept leftover seasoning from the baking trays and sprinkled it on a bagel.
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