National Burrito Day
National Burrito Day falls on the first Thursday of April — a rolling holiday that honors the flour tortilla's most ambitious application. The burrito as we know it (stuffed, folded, and eaten in hand) likely traces back to Mexican railroad workers in the early 20th century, though the name translates charmingly as "little donkey," a nod to the tightly-packed bedrolls strapped to the animals that carried them.
How to celebrate
The rules of a good burrito are few but important:
- Warm the tortilla before you roll it. A cold tortilla cracks; a warm one surrenders.
- Don't overfill. The burrito's job is to stay closed.
- Build in layers: rice, beans, protein, cheese, veg, salsa. Every bite should have a little of everything.
- Try a regional style you've never had — Mission-style (SF), breakfast burrito (NM), chimichanga (AZ), chivichanga. They're all valid.
- Eat in foil. The foil is load-bearing.
Celebration ideas by audience
For families
Burrito bar for dinner. Put every filling in a bowl; let everyone build their own.
For kids
Pint-sized tortillas with one or two fillings. Call it a 'little donkey.' They'll eat it.
For couples
Take a chance on the hot sauce neither of you has tried. Keep milk nearby.
At the office
A taqueria catering order beats boxed sandwiches every time. Bonus: leftovers keep for two days.
At school
Tie the day to a geography unit — where do burritos come from, and how do they change across the border regions?
In your community
Organize a burrito-roll for a local food program. Mass burrito production is weirdly meditative and serves a lot of people fast.
On your own
Get the breakfast burrito from the place you keep meaning to try. Eat it while it's still hot.