Celebrated on 02/22/2026
National Margarita Day is celebrated on February 22 each year, a date chosen to coincide with the birthday of Margarita Sames, who is often credited with inventing the drink in 1948. The holiday was officially created in 2008 by the owners of the Los Angeles-based restaurant chain El Cholo, who wanted to honor the iconic cocktail. Today, it's estimated that Americans consume over 185,000 margaritas per hour on this day.
The exact origins of National Margarita Day are a bit hazy, much like the cocktail's own history. The holiday is widely believed to have been established in 2008 by the owners of El Cholo, a popular Mexican restaurant chain in Los Angeles, as a way to promote their margarita specials. However, the date February 22 was chosen to honor Margarita Sames, a socialite from San Antonio, Texas, who is often credited with creating the first margarita in 1948 at her Acapulco vacation home. While there are competing claims (including by restaurateur Carlos “Danny” Herrera in Tijuana in 1938), the Sames narrative is the most romanticized and has been embraced by the holiday's founders.
Since its inception, National Margarita Day has grown from a local promotion into a nationwide celebration, fueled by the cocktail's enduring popularity. Bars and restaurants across the United States now offer special deals, such as $5 margaritas, new flavor launches, and themed parties. The holiday has also expanded to social media, where consumers share photos of their favorite margaritas using hashtags like #NationalMargaritaDay. In recent years, craft cocktail culture has elevated the margarita with artisanal ingredients, premium tequilas, and creative twists (e.g., spicy, frozen, or fruit-infused versions). Despite its commercial nature, the day serves as a lighthearted tribute to one of America's most beloved cocktails.
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