Ever since the 1980s, Taco Tuesday, a primarily American tradition, has been celebrated by many families, some every Tuesday. But how was the greatest weekly tradition of all time started?
This great weekly holiday is said to have originated in the 1930s, when Mexican restaurants would attract customers with their discounted tacos on Tuesdays, during the Great Depression. But the official beginning of Taco Tuesday started in New Jersey, at Gregory’s Restaurant & Bar in 1979. Later, Gregory’s trademarked the term in the state of New Jersey.
Then, in 1989, Taco John’s was granted a federal trademark on the term and prevented other restaurants from using the term. A Wyoming Taco John’s first called it “Taco Twosday” to advertise their 99-cent deal on two tacos on Tuesdays, which was their slowest day of the week. This marketing worked incredibly well, so it was given to the other Taco John’s franchises throughout the country.
Some restaurants attributed the trademark to owning other commonly used phrases in the food industry, such as “happy hour”. According to CNN, Taco Bell went so far as to file a lawsuit to cancel the trademark. In response, Taco John’s claimed that the lawsuit had “statements of opinion to which no response is required, including that Tuesday is a mediocre day of the week”.
But, in 2023, under much public pressure and some lawsuits, Taco John’s decided to give up its rights to the term, which is now widely used throughout America.
However, a poll* conducted by The Spartan Speaks found that Taco Tuesday is not celebrated broadly in the Orono community: 49% of the student body never celebrate Taco Tuesday, 24% celebrate a few times a year, and 27% celebrate either once or twice a month or every week. Only 7% of the student body celebrates Taco Tuesday every week.
The term has now become well-known in pop culture and everyday life. NBA star Lebron James even tried (but failed) to trademark it as his own.
Families across the nation now share in this weekly ritual, as they feast on tacos every Tuesday night.
*This poll was not scientific. This poll was posted on The Spartan Speaks Instagram. When asked “How Often Do You Celebrate Taco Tuesday?”, there were 7 votes for “Every Week”, 16 votes for “Once or Twice a Month”, 21 votes for “A Few Times a Year”, and 42 votes for “Never”.
