National Margarita Day

National Margarita Day, observed February 22nd, celebrates one of the most popular cocktails in the United States, made from tequila, lime juice, and orange liqueur, typically served with a salted rim. The margarita's exact origin is disputed, with several competing claims placing its invention in the 1930s or 1940s, most commonly attributed to Mexican bartenders in border towns like Tijuana, including a frequently cited story crediting Carlos "Danny" Herrera, who reportedly created the drink for a customer with a tequila allergy to other spirits, though multiple other bartenders and socialites across Mexico and the American Southwest have also claimed credit over the years, and no single account has been definitively verified as the true origin. Regardless of its contested beginnings, the margarita grew enormously in popularity in the United States through the mid-to-late 20th century, aided by the rise of Tex-Mex and Mexican restaurant culture and the later invention of the frozen margarita machine in Texas in the 1970s, which made the blended, slushy version widely available. Today the margarita remains one of the best-selling cocktails in America, served in countless variations, from classic and frozen to flavored versions with fruit purees. On National Margarita Day, people celebrate with margaritas at bars, restaurants, or home-mixed versions.