Yes, it’s National Trail Mix Day today, August 31. That end-of-summer holiday we all look forward to each year.

Okay, maybe not, but this is another one of those National fill-in-the-blank Days that’s kind of fun. So, instead of cookies or chips, perhaps today your snack of choice should be a nice zip-lock bag of trail mix.

Everyone loves trail mix mostly because the possibilities of ingredients are endless and can be catered to your own preferences – from chocolate to fruit to nuts to cereal – anything goes!

Here are a few fun facts about Trail Mix passed along to us by the folks at Bear Naked.

â‹… Some claim that trail mix was first invented in 1968 by two California surfers who blended peanuts and raisins together for an energy snack. (What a boss idea, dude.)

â‹… But the first literary mention of trail mix dates back to Jack Kerouac’s 1958 novel The Dharma Bums where the two main characters describe their planned meals in their preparation for a hiking trip. (That’s cool, daddy-o.)

â‹… Trail Mix made news this year when Sony Pictures Entertainment suggested trail mix along with other better-for-you foods for movie theater concession stands instead of candy. (Let’s all go to the lobby…let’s all go to the lobby…)

â‹… Trail Mix has many names including ‘GORP’ which stands for ‘good old raisins and peanuts’ and ‘scroggin’ in New Zealand and Australia. (G’day, mate, how ’bout some GORP?)

For more on what’s hot in the world of snacks, check out our article on the Top Ten 2010 Snack Trends.

Bear Naked recently launched a new line of trail mixes and flavor combinations, including Cranberry Protein, Apple Pecan Flax and Chocolaty Cherry. Bear Naked boasts that its trail mixes are ‘bearly’ processed and just as nutritious as they are delicious.