National Pupusa Day, November 13, 2022. All you Need to Know About this Salvadoran Holiday

National Pupusa Day
Cooking Salvadoran Pupusas. Photo by Mireya

National Pupusa Day is a Salvadoran national holiday celebrated on the second Sunday in November. National Day of Pupusas is a festivity traditionally celebrated in El Salvador and cities worldwide with a prominent Salvadoran population.

The National Pupusa Day celebration was enacted by a Legislative decree in 2005. The same year the Salvadoran Legislative Assembly officially declared pupusas the national dish of El Salvador. Since then, every second Sunday in November, Salvadorans celebrate it.

Pupusas are the typical food from El Salvador that both Salvadorans and foreigners like to eat. This tasty dish, consumed by all Salvadorans, dates back to pre-colonial times.

National Day of Pupusas
Salvadoran Pupusas. Photo by Italo

How to celebrate National Pupusa Day?

You will be part of the celebration as long as you eat Pupusas during this day; there is no right or wrong way to celebrate National Pupusa Day. However, if you are looking for specific things to do during this holiday, here are a few options or recommendations.

Attend a Pupusa Festival in your Area

Attending a Pupusa Day Festival is a fun thing to do during this day. Many municipalities in El Salvador have special celebrations to commemorate this day.

These events have live music and offer plenty of games for kids. Also, they have plenty of activities for all visitors, including the popular Pupusa eating contests.

Cities in El Salvador are not the only ones where you can find Pupusa Day events. Cities outside El Salvador with large Hispanic populations also have this events during this day. Just like in El Salvador, they offer plenty of activities and foods to enjoy.

Visit Olocuilta, the Pupusa Capital.

If you live in El Salvador or happen to be in El Salvador during National Pupusa Day, you must visit the town of Olocuilta. This small town is right off the main highway between San Salvador and the international airport. Olocuilta is known as the Pupusa Capital of El Salvador.


Olocuilta is known for having many Pupuserias that serve all types of tasty Pupusas; some of them stay open 24 hours. Additionally, Olocuilta entered the the Guinness record for making the largest Pupussa in the world in 2015.

Largest Pupusa in the World
Largest Pupusa in the world.

The 14-foot pupusa was made by 30 chefs using 150 pounds of dough, 90 pounds of cheese, 50 pounds of beans and 50 pounds of pork rinds. After its preparation, more than 2,000 attendees at the event were able to savor the tasty food. www.guinnessworldrecords.es

Every second Sunday in November, Olocuilta makes a Pupusa that resembles the largest pupusa in the world. The making of this giant pupusa is another reason to visit Olocuilta in November.

Full disclaimer; Olocuilta does not hold the record for the world’s largest pupusa anymore; in 2021, Soyapango made a Pupusa that was 15 feet long, surpassing the previous Olocuilta record of 14 feet. However, it was not during the Pupusa day Celebrations.

Nevertheless, The city of Olocuilta was the first to enter the Guinness World Records book and did it on National Pupusas Day.

Visit Small Towns with Food Festivals

If you are in El Salvador during this celebration, visit a small town with a weekend food festival and enjoy the tasty Pupusas. In these towns, you will get the option to try the local dishes and traditional Salvadoran foods.

These small colorful towns in El Salvador have traditional weekend food festivals, but they get even better during National Pupusa Day. Juayua, Apaneca, Salcoatitan, and Suchitoto are some of the best options.

Go out and eat Pupusas

An excellent way to celebrate National Pupusa Day is to go out with family or friends and eat some Pupusas. If you are in El Salvador, finding a Pupuseria will not be a problem; they are everywhere!

If you are outside El Salvador, look for an authentic Salvadoran restaurant near you and enjoy some tasty Pupusas.

Finding an authentic Salvadoran restaurant that makes traditional Pupusas might be challenging in some countries. But not in large cities with large Salvadoran communities.

Salvadoran Pupusas
Salvadoran Pupusas.

Make Pupusas Yourself

Making Pupusas yourself is another fun thing to do on this particular Sunday. It is not that difficult to do. Many Families, or friends, use this day as a reason to get together and spend time having fun and eating Pupusas. If you want more information about the national dish of El Salvador, visit our “Pupusas” page.

National Pupusa Day.

National Pupusa Day is a traditional celebration that dates back to 2005. It is a fun holiday worth celebrating. If you haven’t done it yet, get in the spirit and eat some Pupusas on the second Sunday in November!

Frequently asked questions.

What is National Pupusa Day?

National Pupusa day is a holiday created to honor Pupusas, the national dish of El Salvador. National Pupusa day is a holiday observed by Salvadorans worldwide.

What day is National pupusa day?

National Pupusa Day is on November 13, 2022; it is celebrated on the second Sunday in November; this celebratory day started in 2005 via a legislative decree.

How is National Pupusa Day celebrated?

National Pupusa Day is celebrated in communities and cities worldwide with special events such as pupusa eating contests, parades, music, games, and much more. In El Salvador, the government encourages citizens to eat Pupusas to celebrate the country’s gastronomy and help boost the local economy.

What do you do on National Pupusa Day?

On National Pupusa Day, you can attend a pupusa festival and enjoy the many activities. You can also visit an authentic Salvadoran restaurant or make some Pupusas yourself.

Why is National Pupusa Day celebrated?

National Pupusa Day is celebrated to promote and appreciate Pupusas, the most popular food from El Salvador. It is a day of celebration in cities worldwide with large Salvadoran communities.

When is National Pupusa Day?

National Pupusa Day is celebrated on the Second Day in November. In 2022, this Salvadoran national holiday will take place on Sunday, November 13. The city of Olocuilat is the best small town to visit on this day.