Brief History

Mario first appeared in 1981 in the arcade game "Donkey Kong," created by Shigeru Miyamoto. Initially known as "Jumpman," Mario quickly became Nintendo's mascot and starred in his own game, "Super Mario Bros.," in 1985. This game was a tremendous success, cementing Mario as a household name. Over the years, Mario has featured in numerous games across various genres, from platformers to kart racing and sports. National Mario Day was established for fans to celebrate their affection for the character and his games, with "Mar10" cleverly representing his name.

How It’s Celebrated

National Mario Day is enthusiastically celebrated by fans and gaming communities. Common activities include:

• Fans enjoy classic and modern Mario games, often organizing tournaments and speed runs.
• Mario-themed parties with costumes, decorations, and Mario-inspired food and drinks.
• Sharing favorite Mario moments, memes, and fan art using the hashtag #NationalMarioDay.
• Game retailers and digital stores frequently offer special discounts on Mario games and merchandise.
• Gaming communities and stores may host events such as trivia contests and cosplay competitions to engage fans.

Mario 

Interesting Facts

• Mario was initially named "Jumpman" in "Donkey Kong" before being renamed Mario.
• Mario has featured in over 200 video games, making him one of the most prolific video game characters.
• The character was named after Mario Segale, the landlord of Nintendo of America’s warehouse.
• Mario's signature mustache was added to make his facial expressions more visible with the limited graphical capabilities of early video games.
• "Super Mario Bros." holds the record for the best-selling video game franchise of all time.