(CNN/RNN) - In these contentious times, Americans need something unifying. Luckily, Friday is National Pizza Day.
While styles vary from region to region – New York prides itself on its traditional pizzerias, Chicago swears by deep dish, and Hawaii prefers an island twist with pineapple – pizza is surely one of the country’s most-agreed-upon favorite foods.
Roughly 17 percent of all restaurants in the U.S. are pizzerias.
The first one in the U.S. opened in 1895 and Americans are believed to consume about 23 pounds of pizza, per person, each year.
The most popular ingredient won’t come as a shock to anyone: It’s pepperoni.
Restaurants around the country are doing National Pizza Day deals, and national chains such as Pizza Hut were offering promotions. Others celebrated in their own way: NASA tweeted out a video of astronauts making pizza in space.
????#NationalPizzaDay???? Hut Rewards Members: Enjoy 30% off menu-priced pizzas in your account. Not a member? Sign up at https://t.co/5ry8NBctRY to get your 30% off. pic.twitter.com/DhGdhNaD1M
— Pizza Hut (@pizzahut) February 9, 2018
#FlashbackFriday to the time the astronauts aboard @Space_Station had the very first “Out of this World” pizza party! Our astro’s like their??in microgravity. How do you like yours? #NationalPizzaDay pic.twitter.com/RaQPEi3pnX
— NASA (@NASA) February 9, 2018
The event made the rounds on social media as well, with #WhyILovePizzaIn4Words popular on Twitter.
It is unclear when, where, how or why National Pizza Day originated, though the barrier to entry is evidently low, with Friday also being National Bagel Day.
In the spirit of #NationalPizzaDay w/@HashtagRoundup, we want you to tell us: #WhyILovePizzaIn4Words ?????? pic.twitter.com/FwESAY4oLj
— Little Caesars (@littlecaesars) February 9, 2018
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