National Taco Day is a holiday that celebrates the traditional Mexican dish and is observed annually on the first Tuesday in October. While most people know what a taco is, not everyone agrees on the definition of the best taco. Some people prefer their tacos in soft tortilla shells, while others prefer hard shells.

It is also a dish that can be filled with just about anything—from beans and rice to beef, chicken, fish, and just about anything else you can think to fill it with. However, there is one thing that most people can agree on: tacos are delicious!

History of Tacos

When tacos were actually invented is something that isn’t currently known. Many food historians believe that this food began during the 18th century in Mexican silver mines. That’s because the word “taco” was used for the explosive charges they used to dislodge silver ore from the rock of the mines.

These charges were basically pieces of paper that were wrapped around gunpowder. These little charges were then placed into holes drilled into the rock face. However, while that may explain how this dish got its name, many people believe that it can be traced even further back, all the way to the Aztecs, in fact.

It is known that during the 16th century, tacos were already being created by the Aztec Mexicas—the inhabitants of the area. They used flat cornbread called tlaxcalli and filled them with a variety of different fillings.

The diet of the people in this area was documented by a Franciscan friar known as Bernardino de Sahagun in 1529 in his book “Historia General de las Cosas de Nueva Espana” (General History of the Things of New Spain). This book details the diet of these people, which consisted of tamales, chilies, corn, and tortillas, which gave them everything they needed to make tacos. Mexican immigrants brought the concept of tacos with them to the United States during the 19th and 20th centuries. During the 1920s, taco trucks began to appear in the western and southwestern portions of the U.S.

All over the country, family-run Mexican restaurants began appearing, and each one brought their own version of tacos to the table of America. Today, Americans consume over 5 billion tacos each year. This includes tacos sold from Mexican restaurants, tacos made at home, and tacos purchased at chains such as Taco Bell. Of those 5 billion tacos, 2 billion are sold by Taco Bell each year.

National Taco Day Deals

On this holiday, there are a variety of different deals offered by restaurants that serve tacos. Some may offer discounted tacos (some as cheap as $1), and some may even offer free ones. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled in the days prior to this holiday to find out which taco deals can be had.

Celebrating National Taco Day

The best way to celebrate National Taco Day is by enjoying a delicious taco. Be sure to take advantage of National Taco Day deals to get the best bargain. It’s also a good day to learn about the history of the taco and the contributions made to America by Mexican immigrants.