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Welcome to the cocky ride home for Wednesday, December 29th, 2021.

I'm Jackson Bird today.

A history of the humble donut as a symbol of American patriotism and a circular source of joy world round.

Plus a roundup of New Year's traditions from around the world, in case you're looking

for a little inspiration on this perhaps quieter than usual New Year's Eve.

Here are some of the cool things from the news today.

Donuts, as we know them today, really only date back to about the 18th century, specifically around the American Revolution.

But the idea of fried dough as a treat goes back way longer.

The BBC says, quote, it's probably been on the menu for as long as flour has been milled and large quantities of animal fat or oil have been on hand."

An eater adds, quote, the first reference to a fried dough, a honey-glazed sweet, fried in olive

oil, comes from Athenius in the third century CE, end quote.

And indeed, there are many examples of different fried dough dishes, sweet and savory, from around the world going back millennia, from French bignets to Navajo frybread, and more.

But it took the fusion of cultures and a heaping spoonful of faux nostalgia to transform those doughy desserts into the American icon that is the doughnuts.

And I do mean American icon. Despite its popularity around the world, the donut is

...