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__NOTOC__[[File:Popcorn-1085072_960_720.jpg|thumbnail|200px|left|Popcorn]]Popcorn is often associated as considered to be a relatively modern snack that is usually consumed while watching television or a movie, but popcorn has been around much longer than the local multiplex. Humans have been eating popcorn possibly since before corn was even domesticated. Although popcorn can simply develop from a dried corn seed being heated, culture and taste has played an important role in how it has become a popular snack present in many regions today.How did popcorn become one of the most widely consumed snack foods?

Corn In addition to being important for food consumption, evidence exists popcorn was domesticated more than 9made for ritual reasons. A 1,000 years ago 700-year-old painted funeral urn found in Mexico depicts a corn god shown wearing a headdress made of popcorn. Popcorn was so widely used by native cultures in Mexico and other parts of the New World, most likely that Europeans first encountered it in their initial encounters with indigenous peoples in the West Indies and in Mexico. At about 5500 years agoBoth Cortes and Columbus encountered popcorn in their early encounters with native populations, evidence from Mexico also suggests where people ate and wore popcorn may have been madeas part of headdresses, where burn remains have been foundsimilar to how the corn god and other gods were at times shown (Figure 1). As corn spread One story exists that popcorn was served in its use throughout the New World prior to the arrival of Columbusfirst Thanksgiving, many cultures that adopted corn began to also make where early colonists learned about popcornwith the natives they shared a meal with. This Popcorn was done mostly not only consumed by taking itself but it was often used in a long stick, attaching the corn, type of soup and then letting even made into a type of beer.<ref>For more on the ear variety of corn pop uses for popcorn in its kernels over an open fireearly history, see: Podojil, J. The popcorn would then be captured(2013). Another way included using clay pots where the corn was placed <i>Popcorn Favorites: Everything you want to know about Popcorn and then the kernels popped inside the jarMore. In some exceptional preservation environments</i> Bloomington, popcorn older than 1IN: Trafford On Demand Pub.,000 years has been found in Utah and Peru, where both regions are dry and can preserve archaeological remainspg. 16.</ref>

In addition to being important for food consumption, evidence exists Early American settlers utilized popcorn was made for ritual reasons. A 1after learning about it from native populations; however,700-year-old painted funeral urn found in Mexico depicts rather than a corn god shown wearing a headdress made of popcorn. Popcorn nighttime snack, it was so widely used by native cultures in Mexico and other parts often consumed as part of the New World that Europeans first encountered breakfast, where it in their initial encounters would be added with indigenous peoplemilk or cream as a cereal. Both Cortes By the 18th and Columbus encountered popcorn in their early encounters with native populations19th centuries, where people ate and wore English speakers began referring to popcorn as part of headdresses"popped corn, similar " where the term eventually shortened to how the corn god was at times shownpopcorn. One story exists that popcorn was served in <ref>For more on the first Thanksgiving, where early colonists learned about history of popcorn with the natives they shared a meal withconsumption by European settlers and Americans, see: Smith, A. F. (Ed.). (2013). Popcorn was not only consumed by itself but it was often used <i>Food and Drink in soup and even made into a type of beerAmerican History: A “full course” encyclopedia.</i> Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO. </ref>

Early American settlers utilized ==Developed Popularity==[[File:Cretors Steam Powered Popcorn Machine c1905.png|thumbnail|300px|left|Figure 2. The Cretors' machine greatly facilitated the process of making popcorn after learning about and made it from native populationsmore popular.]]The key innovation that expanded popcorn's popularity was the invention of the popcorn maker, created by Charles Cretors in the 1880s (Figure 2). However In fact, rather than the basic design of early popcorn machines has been retained in later developments used for public outings and events. The machine Cretors founded enabled him to establish a nighttime snackcompany that still exists, where it specializes in popcorn machines and other concession foods. Cretors machine used steam to do the roasting, and it was often consumed suitable for roasting peanuts as well as part making popcorn. The key innovation was the machine automated the process of breakfastpopping the kernels and seasoning the popcorn, making the process uniform and thus ensuring that almost all the kernels came out the same. This facilitated the process of making popcorn from a more manual effort, where it many kernels would not often pop or get equal heat, to one where a lot of popcorn could be added made easily. <ref>For more on Cretors' early machine, see: Fussell, B. H. (2004). <i>The Story of Corn.</i> University of New Mexico Press pbk. ed. Albuquerque: University of New Mexico Press, pg. 12.</ref> The presence of Cretors' machines in festivals and fairs soon began to associate popcorn with milk or creamthese events, which popcorn is still associated with today. By 1900s, Cretors' popcorn machines began to use electricity rather than steam. This early use of electricity insured that the company and the brand was well positioned for the 18th increased electrification that occurred for household and early 19th centurieslarger consumer suppliers during the first few decades of the 20th century. Such developments now also made popcorn machines become more typical household items. Interestingly, the Great Depression had little effect for popcorn makers. During this time, popcorn was so cheap to make that it became a common food for consumption, English speakers began referring enabling many suppliers to thrive in very difficult economic circumstances. It also meant that popcorn became more popular, as "popped cornthe low prices helped to spread its consumption outside of just carnivals or fairs but to also more daily consumption. One such business was the Redenbacher family," where the term eventually shortened family was able to support itself during difficult economic circumstances by selling popcorn. This family today is still associated with a popular popcorn brand.<ref>For more on the development of popcornmachines and growing popularity, see: Nielsen, L. M. (2007). <i>The Biography of Corn.</i> New York, NY: Crabtree Pub. Co., pg. 23.</ref>

The key innovation that expanded popcorn's popularity Interestingly, it was also during the invention of Depression in the 1930s that popcorn maker, created became associated with eating during watching a film. Theaters began to experiment by Charles Cretors putting popcorn machines in the 1880slobby and selling it to moviegoers. This proved so immensely successful that it began to spread to other theaters rapidly across the US. In fact, many theater owners thought it would be distracting to sell popcorn, as it can be noisy to eat, but the basic design success of early popcorn machines has been retained in later developmentssales soon changed their minds. The machine Cretors founded enabled him to establish a company During World War II, sugar rationing meant that still exists, where it specializes candy was not as widely available. With decreasing candy consumption in popcorn machines theaters and other concession foods. Cretors machine used steam venues, this opened the way for popcorn now to do become the roasting, and it was suitable for roasting peanuts number one movie snack as well as making the most popular snack in venues such as fairs. These changing tastes solidified popcorn's place in snakes.<ref>For more on how popcorn culture changed and transformed US consumers, see: Giedt 2013 </ref>