Mario Day or Mar10 Day is celebrated on March 10 every year. The date comes from fans noticing that MAR10 (abbreviated from March 10) looks like MARIO. Fans started sharing this on Twitter and Reddit as early as 2009, and that wordplay became the whole story behind the holiday.

For years it remained an unofficial fan observation. Nintendo began officially recognizing it around 2015–2016. Their first formal celebration was a video of someone in a Mario costume causing mischief at Nintendo’s offices. Since then, the company has used it for game discounts, news announcements, tournaments, sweepstakes, and retail meet-and-greets.

ℹ️ It is a common misconception that March 10 is the anniversary of the original Super Mario Bros. game. In reality, that game was released on September 13, 1985. The March date was chosen purely for the visual pun of the abbreviated calendar date.

MAR10 Facts
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MAR10 DAY
FUN FACTS
6 things you didn’t know about Mario
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He wasn’t always a plumber
In his 1981 debut in Donkey Kong, Mario was actually a carpenter named “Jumpman.” He only became a plumber in the 1983 game Mario Bros. because much of the gameplay took place in the New York City underground pipe system.
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The “Cloud” and “Bush” secret
Due to the extreme memory limitations of the original NES, the developers of Super Mario Bros. (1985) had to be incredibly resourceful. To save space, the clouds and the bushes in the game use the exact same sprite — they are just colored differently (white for clouds, green for bushes).
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Mario’s “Illegal” Name
For decades, fans debated his last name. In the 1993 live-action movie, he was called “Mario Mario” to explain why they were the “Mario Brothers.” While Nintendo creator Shigeru Miyamoto originally denied this, he officially confirmed in 2015 that his full legal name is indeed Mario Mario.
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The “Punching” Misconception
If you look closely at the original 8-bit sprites, Mario is not hitting the blocks with his head. He actually has his fist raised — he is punching the blocks to break them.
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A Financial Powerhouse
Mario is the best-selling video game franchise of all time. As of 2024, the series has sold over 832 million copies worldwide. To put that in perspective, if every person who bought a Mario game stood in a line, they would wrap around the Earth more than 30 times.
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Mario’s “Hat and Mustache” were hardware fixes
Mario has a mustache and a hat because of the limited pixels of 1980s technology:
  • The Mustache: It was easier to draw a mustache than a mouth or facial expressions.
  • The Hat: It was too difficult to animate realistic-looking hair while he was jumping.

How People Celebrate

Mario Day is the perfect excuse to revisit your favorite games, explore new ones, or dive into Mario-inspired activities. Here are some fun ways to celebrate the hero in red:

  • Host a Mario-themed gaming marathon with friends or family. Play classic titles like Super Mario Bros., race in Mario Kart, or try competitive matches in Super Smash Bros. If you need ideas, this video presents every Mario video game ever to exist:
  • Dress up as your favorite Mario character and share your look on social media. Use hashtags like #MarioDay, #Mar10Day and #Mar10 to connect with other fans around the world.
  • Visit a local or online store to pick up Mario merchandise. From T-shirts and figurines to collector’s editions of games, it’s a great way to show your love for the franchise.
  • Introduce younger gamers to Mario by playing together or gifting them a Nintendo console. Sharing the joy of Mario’s adventures creates new memories while honoring his timeless legacy.

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National Days,

Last Update: March 10, 2026

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