National Cherry Popsicle Day

The Popsicle owes its existence to an 11‑year‑old boy’s forgetfulness. In 1905, San Francisco resident Frank Epperson mixed powdered soda pop with water and left his cup, stirring stick and all, on the porch overnight. Temperatures dipped below freezing, and he awoke to find a sweet ice block on a stick. Epperson dubbed his accidental creation the ‘Epsicle’ and later sold the treats at an amusement park. After patenting his frozen novelty in 1923, he renamed it Popsicle. Cherry is among the brand’s most beloved flavours, evoking childhood summers, red tongues and sticky fingers. National Cherry Popsicle Day is a chance to reconnect with that simple pleasure. You can buy a box of cherry pops or make your own by blending cherries with water and sugar, then freezing the puree in moulds with sticks. As the pops freeze, cherry juice seeps into every crevice, creating icy strata of crimson. When you take a bite, the cold fruit explodes with tart sweetness. This holiday reminds us that serendipity and playfulness can produce enduring treats and that sometimes the best way to cool off on a hot day is with something delightfully messy.