Every year, on the Fourth of July, Jacqueline Lewis and her family gather to celebrate a beloved American tradition: the Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating competition. Lewis, who has been attending the event since she was 15, shared her thoughts on the fascination people have with witnessing the extreme consumption of hot dogs in a short time frame. The competition, held at the original Nathan’s location in Coney Island, attracts close to two million viewers on ESPN annually, with thousands more attending the live event in Brooklyn.

Competitors dedicate months to training for the contest, conditioning their bodies to ingest thousands of calories within a mere 10-minute window. The recent exclusion of reigning champion Joey Chestnut due to his partnership with Impossible Foods, a plant-based meat company, garnered significant media attention, underscoring the event’s national prominence.

While Nathan’s Famous has played a pivotal role in popularizing competitive eating as a flashy and extravagant sport that mirrors America’s fixation on excess, the roots of eating contests extend far back in history. From ancient Greek and Norse myths to early American traditions, such as ginger cake and pie eating competitions, the allure of speed and volume in consuming food has captivated audiences for centuries.

According to Jason Fagone’s book ‘Horsemen of the Esophagus: Competitive Eating and the Big Fat American Dream,’ the concept of competitive eating can be traced back to as early as the second century A.D. The tradition evolved over time, with pie eating contests becoming a staple of Fourth of July festivities and other communal gatherings.

Adrienne Bitar, a lecturer in American studies at Cornell University, noted that in the 19th century, there were primarily two types of eating contests, including pie eating competitions that served as social icebreakers at various events. These contests not only provided entertainment but also became ingrained in the fabric of American culture, symbolizing communal bonding and celebration.

From ginger cakes in the 18th century to hot dogs in the 21st century, competitive eating has transformed into a spectacle that captivates audiences worldwide. The Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating competition stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of consuming copious amounts of food in a competitive setting, blending tradition with modern-day entertainment in a uniquely American fashion.