Behind popcorn, what’s the most popular movie theater snack in California?

Popcorn ranks as the most popular movie theater snack across the United States, but what’s the second-most popular? It varies from state to state, Cinemark said.

The theater chain released the information to celebrate National Snack Day on Wednesday, March 4. It created the rankings by analyzing the concession purchases of Cinemark moviegoers.

In California, pizza ranks as the most popular movie theater snack behind popcorn. In Washington, it’s hot dogs, and it’s also pizza in Idaho, Cinemark said.

Other top choices across the country include nachos, Buncha Crunch and fruit snacks.

National Snack Day was established in 2016 by Jace Shoemaker-Galloway, who has invented more than two-dozen informal holidays, Days of the Year said.

What is National Snack Day?

Shoemaker-Galloway has never explained her exact reason for dubbing March 4 “National Snack Day,” Days of the Year said.

“Her fondness for everyday pleasures likely played a role in shaping this cheerful, food-focused day,” the site said.

What’s the history of snacking?

The word “snack” derives from the Dutch word “snacken,” which means “to bite,” Checkiday said.

The peanut became one of the first snack foods in the United States after the Civil War. Along with popcorn and pretzels, they were sold by street vendors.

Many popular snack foods date to the St. Louis World’s Fair in 1904, which introduced Americans to cotton candy, hot dogs, waffle cones and hamburgers, the site said.

Advances in packaging and processing between 1950 and 2000 turned the United States into a “snack food nation,” Days of the Year said.

Global snack sales now rival the economic power of some nations, the site said.

Are there other snack food celebrations?

February is National Snack Food Month, National Day Calendar said.

The designation was created by National Snack Food Association and the National Potato Promotion Board in 1989 to promote snacking, especially healthy snacks.