Warm up these cold winter days with a bowl of chili for National Chili Day!

OMAHA, Neb. (KPTM) — National Chili Day is celebrated the fourth Thursday of February, and this year it is February 23, according to nationaldaycalendar.com.

The most basic and commonly made chili is made of beans, tomatoes, chili peppers, meat, garlic, onions, and cumin, but there are many variations of the basic recipe.

The American Frontier Settlers found unique way of preserving chili while thy traveled the trails.

The took suet, dried beef, dried chili peppers, and salt, and they formed them into bricks to be preserved.

Later, they would boil the brick in pots as they traveled.

The 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago showed people from across the U.S. a different kind of chili thanks to the San Antonio Chili Stand.

The stand gave people across the country a taste of the Texas-style chili con carne.

In 1977, the House of Concurrent Resolution that was passed in the legislature made chili con carne the official dish of Texas.

With a variety of flavors, there are also a variety of ways to eat chili:

• Chili dogs
• Chili burgers
• Chili fries
• Baked potato topped with chili
• Chili mixed with rice
• Chili mac and cheese

Most common toppings for chili include:

• Sour cream
• Green onions
• Shredded cheese
• Jalapenos
• Tortilla chips
• Cornbread
• Cottage cheese

How to take place in such a flavorful holiday:

• Make chili
• Try a new recipe
• Host a chili cook off
• Try new toppings
• Use #NationalChiliDay on social media to share how you celebrated

In 2006, Rich Kelly of the Hard Times Cafe in Arlington, VA created the holiday, said the website.