National Cheesecake Day is an unofficial holiday which comes annually on July 30th.

The observance, which is part of a surprisingly large tradition of food holidays, has not been officially endorsed by any presidents, and does not have any congressional records to solidify its claim.

No worries. Without official sanction, thousands and maybe millions of people from across the country find good reason to celebrate this decidedly delicious holiday anyway.

And why shouldn't cheesecake have its own holiday? Records of cheesecake date as far back as 770 BC, when the dessert, or something like it at least, was served to Olympic athletes. Today, there are European, Latin American, Asian, and of course, American variations on how the dessert is baked and served.

New York Style or Philadelphia?

No-bake strawberry cheesecake

In the United States, there are two big contenders for the cheesecake crown, one being New York style cheesecake, which is very heavy and rich and features cream cheese, heavy cream, and many other fattening ingredients.

The other popular cheesecake is Philadelphia style, which is generally considered to be creamier and also lighter than the New York style cheesecake, but certainly does not skimp on the fattening ingredients.

Cheesecake can also be flavored in a huge variety of ways.

Chocolate or strawberry remain the popular national favorites followed by (surprise!) pumpkin cheesecake, which is usually enjoyed as a perfect combination of America's favorite winter holiday desserts - pumpkin pie and cheesecake.

How to celebrate National Cheesecake Day

Joining in the fun on National Cheesecake Day is simple. The only requirement is the hearty consumption of cheesecake (do we really need a reason?). Also look for many popular cheesecake chains and restaurants to offer great deals on cheesecake on July 30th in celebration.

While making cheesecake can sometimes be a challenge, there is no reason that the holiday can't be celebrated at home with these easy, delicious cheesecake recipes ... with best wishes for a Happy National Cheesecake Day!