National Burrito Day is a holiday that falls on the first Thursday in April every year. It’s a day upon which everyone can enjoy one of the world’s favorite Mexican dishes and one that’s built on only the versatility and strength of a flour or corn tortilla that’s filled with delectable ingredients. Regardless of whether you love pork, chicken, beef, or even a veggie burrito, this is a day that you’re going to want to make sure that you mark on your calendar.

The History Of National Burrito Day

Although it’s currently unknown who started National Burrito Day, we do know that the food it’s based on goes back to at least the 19th century. The oldest mention of the word burrito was found in the Dictionary Of Mexicanisms—a book that dates back to 1895. That means that the burrito is at least 126+ years old—although, in reality, burritos are probably much older than that and have probably been made for quite a long time.

The term burrito is a Spanish word that means “Little Donkey” and it’s believed that they were so named because a rolled up burrito looks like the bedrolls that donkeys used to carry back in the day. Before the burrito was introduced into the U.S., it quickly became a popular food item in the areas of Guerrero and Guanajuato.

From Guerrero and Guanajuato, burritos were brought into the areas of Stockton and Fresno, California thanks to migrant workers during the 1910s and 1920s. It wouldn’t be until the early 1930s, however, that burritos would begin to make its way onto the menus of some Californian restaurants. As the burrito migrated northwards, some of its characteristics began to change as well. For example, Mexican burritos were known to be mainly composed of only meat and beans tucked inside a corn tortilla. American burritos, however, were usually made with flour tortillas using a variety of ingredients including meat, cheese, salsa, lettuce, and tomatoes.

By the 1950s, burritos had made their way across the entire continental United States, and by 1964, the first frozen burrito was being made and sold. In 1975, Tia Sophia’s in Sante Fe, New Mexico began selling a new burrito invention called the breakfast burrito—although Mexicans had already been placing their Huevos Rancheros in flour tortillas long before their menu item was invented. In 1991, Mcdonalds began to sell breakfast burritos that were filled with American cheese, sausage, eggs, and onions.

How To Observe National Burrito Day

Celebrating this holiday is a straightforward experience. All a person has to do is to find and enjoy some of their favorite burritos. It doesn’t matter if the burritos are the Americanized ones sold by Taco Bell or other fast-food restaurants, or if they’re more like authentic Mexican burritos. It might even be a good day to try to make your own burritos using some of your favorite ingredients. No matter how you celebrate it, however, just be sure to use the hashtag #NationalBurritoDay so everyone can see what marvelous burrito you’re eating for the day.