, 5 Interesting Facts , About the History of Pastries.br With National Pastry Day celebrated annuallybr on Dec. 9, you may be curious to find out wherebr exactly these sweet treats came from. .br Here are five interesting factsbr about the history of pastries. .br 1. , The 1821 destruction of a French pastry shopbr in Mexico caused a Pastry War between Francebr and Mexico which lasted for roughly a year. .br 2. , In the 17th century, nun convents in Italybr made their own specialty pastries, which werebr baked from ancient recipes and sold to the public. .br 3. , In 1838, the first Austrian bakery wasbr opened in Paris, France. The pastries it soldbr later inspired the invention of the croissant.br 4. , The Egyptians were among the firstbr to make pastries with their honey cakes,br sweet tarts and date-stuffed dumplings. .br 5. , Pastry baking first became a fashionable practicebr in Britain during the 17th century as bakers beganbr to focus on elaborate decorations and techniques.