Why it is now a contest to eat hot dogs, a Fourth of July tradition for many Americans

Every year tens of thousands of people gather at Coney Iceland is a mass consumption of meat by guards in Nathan Famous hot dog eating contest to watch. Another more 1-1500000 tune in at home, according to organizers. For many of the spectators watching the competition this ritual changed when becoming ridiculous fourth of July. But what’s so interesting about it? The nationally televised event, which follows has its origins in 1970, a loyal fan base around the country found. Neuroscience laboratory staff, postmen and college sweethearts were among the 35,000 people in attendance this year principal. People came from as just watching Alaska and Ohio contest 10 minutes. (And in case you missed it, this year, the defending champion Joey Chestnut won after 10 minutes to 71 hot dogs woofing). Christine Miller, a supervisor who works for the state of Pennsylvania was the competition to watch with their children when they were little. Without babysitter to watch their children watching televised contest was a fun, easy thing to do together. He felt very patriotic. And ‘now a family tradition. “This is America at its best. This is what he says he” Miller. This year, he waited with his son in line, now 26, to see the competition in person. Marian Gonzales and Wayne Seibel, some of Alaska on vacation in New York, this was an event that they wanted to have fun together. Gonzales stopped last year by competition, during a trip to the city, but he wanted to come back with Seibel. When she is at home, usually they see on television. Gonzales thinks part of the draw is that you feel competing as a competitive sporting event, but more can be assigned. “For me is how people seem more average or ordinary people who can do it,” says Gonzales candidate. Others were there just because they said that as the best way to celebrate it feels all Americans. “We see it every year on ESPN,” says Brendan Schaaf, a 20-year-old from Pennsylvania who went with friends. “He embodies the American Freedom, hot dogs, sun, barbecue. And ‘all the best things.” But it is not only the nature of a single race. And ‘the ultimate goal of a competition to eat, that distinguishes the public, says an expert. In his book Horsemen of the esophagus, writer and journalist Jason Fagone spent a year after the life of competitive eaters and their participation in competitions Essen. He has his theories on the popularity of the event. “A competition to eat the food is substantially equivalent to a car accident. It ‘difficult for a man to look away,” writes TIME Fagone. “And Nathan event is the largest accident on the biggest street live on television.” Fagone points out that America is not the only country in the competitive eating getting national attention, but it is the only country that event, the national television for her birthday. Fagone thinks the hotdog eating contest attractiveness of the universal food fears the people, experience, we could come what to eat and how our body and affects the contempt of competitors for it. “I’m kind of challenge on stage just opened everything that we are afraid,” says Fagone. “And there’s something kind of interesting in this regard.” Viewers awe the feeling seems to be to observe a driving factor in his decision. “I only ate two Nathan yesterday, and that was all I could eat,” said Seibel. “I was ready. How do you put 70 of em in you and me is a mystery.” Hampton Sides, a journalist and writer, this species has been thoroughly studied by Americans unique encounters. E ‘author of Americana deep into the secrets of American subcultures. Sides ‘book examines what critics a national passion for membership’ called. While parts not study Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Nathan in his book, he offered a glimpse of this kind of spectacular events and present boggling- mind. “America is a relatively young country to invent our art traditions had,” he says. pages wonders if Americans continue to absurd rituals and traditions, such as the hot dog eating contest, with “exaggerated sense of loyalty” because of the lack of the kind of rich, deep traditions of other countries and cultures. America turned 243 this July 4, a baby compared to the same way? hen from Egypt, India and China. This Independence Day tradition has developed relatively recently a strong national following. Competition can thank the rivalries and advanced techniques of food Takeru Kobayashi and Joey Chestnut and presenter of the event, George Shea, for his great fame. When Shea and his brother took place in 1991 on advertising for the event, they have worked hard to turn the event into a competitive show. And then Kobayashi eliminated the standing record of 25.5 hot dogs in 2001 to 50 in the allotted time to eat (originally 12 minutes, but were shaved to 10 in 2008), and the competition was much more exciting. Castagna was the perfect rivalry Kobayashi in 2007, after eating 66 hot dogs in 12 minutes getting off. Now there was a side to decide, cheering people to Settle bets. Shea, who serves as a presenter mellifluous case, Joey Chestnut called an American hero. Do you think that people look at each year because of the chestnut embodies the “American-ness” needs people on Independence Day. “Not necessarily reflect Nathan, Brooklyn, in California, regardless. It represents freedom and America on July 4. And a very powerful position,” says TIME. Major League Eating, the competitive professional league eat Shea was involved, other products sponsors competitions throughout the year, but not next to the reputation of Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest Nathan. For many Americans, competitive eaters star as Chestnut and Kobayashi have well known names. ESPN’s broadcast of the competition dates back 16 years, and the network has a contract his mission continues through at least 2024. But regardless of whether you have seen on TV or in person, the competition has managed to establish its place on the holiday calendar so many Americans. “We can be like a melting pot of many different ethnic and religious and any other kind of group thinking about you,” sides, the specialist subculture, he says, trying to explain the popularity of these curious. “We are always trying to figure ,, well, we know what divides us but what unites us?” Apparently, good or bad, do hot dogs.
Picture copyright by Alex Wroblewski-Getty Images