Taco Tuesday has become a popular tradition in many parts of the United States and beyond, with restaurants offering tacos and taco-themed specials on Tuesdays. But is Taco Tuesday actually a Mexican tradition? Or did it originate somewhere else?
The origins of Taco Tuesday
While tacos themselves have a long history in Mexican cuisine, the specific tradition of “Taco Tuesday” is generally credited as starting in the United States, not Mexico.
The earliest known references to Taco Tuesday date back to the 1960s and 1970s in the American Southwest. For example, a newspaper ad for a restaurant in Santa Maria, California touted their Tuesday tacos in 1969. The term also appeared in other California newspapers in the early 1970s.
So while the origins are a bit murky, Taco Tuesday seems to have emerged as a marketing term among American restaurants several decades ago. The term helped restaurants promote and sell tacos by linking them to a specific day of the week.
Popularity and spread of Taco Tuesday
Taco Tuesday gained broader popularity and recognition when it was featured in a series of commercials by the fast food chain Taco Bell in the 1980s. The ads touted the chain’s 59 and 79 cent taco deals on Tuesdays.
Since then, Taco Tuesday has become a widespread phenomenon across the United States, beloved by taco aficionados everywhere. It has spread beyond just restaurants to home cooks hosting Taco Tuesdays for their families and friends.
The tradition has also spread internationally, with Taco Tuesday events popping up in Canada, Australia, Europe and beyond. The global reach of American brands like Taco Bell has helped fuel this international spread.
Is Taco Tuesday celebrated in Mexico?
Despite the popularity of Taco Tuesday in the United States and around the world, Tuesday is not a notable day for eating tacos in Mexico.
Tacos are not traditionally linked to any specific day of the week in Mexico. They are popular everyday food items that can be eaten for breakfast, lunch or dinner any day of the week.
That’s not to say you can’t find Taco Tuesday promotions in Mexico. The influence of American culture means some restaurants have adopted it for marketing purposes, especially in tourist areas. But overall, Taco Tuesday is not a long-standing or widespread tradition in Mexico.
Other notable taco facts and traditions
While Mexicans don’t celebrate Taco Tuesday, tacos are an incredibly important part of Mexican cuisine and culture.
Here are some other key facts and traditions around tacos in Mexico:
- Tacos can be found everywhere from street food stalls to high-end restaurants in Mexico. They are considered a national dish.
- Traditionally, tacos are made with soft, warm corn tortillas rather than hard taco shells often used in Americanized versions.
- There are countless regional variations of tacos across Mexico that feature different fillings and ingredients.
- Tacos have existed in Mexico since at least the 18th century, though their origins likely date back much earlier.
- “Antojitos” or street snacks like tacos are typically eaten late at night or in the very early morning hours in Mexico.
So while Taco Tuesday may not be authentically Mexican, tacos themselves are an incredibly important Mexican food tradition. Their popularity in Mexico helped inspire their popularity across the border.
Should Taco Tuesday be celebrated?
While Taco Tuesday is an American tradition, it has succeeded in exposing millions of people to one of Mexico’s most iconic foods – the taco. The popularity of Taco Tuesday has likely benefited Mexican restaurants and taco vendors overall.
At the same time, some cringe at the commercialization of the day, and the spread of Tex-Mex style tacos loaded with cheese, lettuce and other Americanized fillings. There are also concerns that Taco Tuesday misrepresents real Mexican food culture.
In the end, there’s no denying Taco Tuesday has been a successful tradition, especially for restaurants and fast food chains. It provides a reliable way to get customers in the door on one of the slower nights of the week.
Taco enthusiasts can certainly keep celebrating Taco Tuesday. But it’s also important to recognize that tacos in Mexico go far beyond one day of the week. There is a whole world of authentic and delicious tacos to explore.
Conclusion
In summary, while Taco Tuesday has become a popular ritual across the United States and beyond, its origins can be traced back to marketing campaigns rather than authentic Mexican cultural traditions. Real Mexican taco culture goes much deeper than Taco Tuesday, from the beloved street snack’s humble beginnings to the incredible regional diversity found across Mexico. For taco fans, any day of the week is a good day to enjoy Mexico’s iconic dish.