Have a Coke Day

Cans of Coca Cola. Steve Buissinne / Pixabay.com / 2014 / CC0 1.0

The 8th of May is “Have a Coke Day”.

It marks the day when Coke® first went on sale in 1886.

Coke®, short for “Coca-Cola®”, is a global brand, so today truly is an international holiday. 

The Coke company seems to refer to today as “Share a Coke Day”:

“The sales team at Brunswick Coca-Cola wakes up ready to share a Coke every day of the year. So you can imagine their excitement on Tuesday, May 8th, when National Share a Coke Day came around! The team hit the ground running, Cokes in hand, ready to spread the love. This kickoff to summer fun is a day when Coca-Cola associates are encouraged to wear Share a Coke t-shirts and share information about the 2018 Share a Coke promotion. They have the opportunity to meet a lot of interesting people and give them the treat of an ice-cold Coca-Cola.” ^[1]Coca Cola Company. National Share A Coke Day. Blog entry. 9 May 2018. Accessed April 2021 at https://cocacolaunited.com/blog/2018/05/09/national-share-coke-day/

Do you prefer your Coke out of a glass, a can, or a bottle, and have you found any supermarket knock-off brands that you like?

#HaveACokeDay #NationalHaveACokeDay

See also: Soft drinks, Coca Cola, I’d Like To Buy The World A Coke Day

Activities for today

• make a recipe that calls for Coke as an ingredient, even something as simple as an ice cream float (there are several recipes for Coca Cola Cake, and pie);
• haul all your Coca Cola memorabilia out for prominent display;
• have friends over for a party with mixed drinks using Coke. A classic is “Rye and Coke”;
• try one of Coke’s other non-food uses: removing rust, cleaning toilets, removing stains from ceramics, etc.;
• offer a taste test of different Coke flavours, or of different supermarket brands of cola, for people to try;
• above all, have a Coke! have some friends over, with ice on hand, and some nice soda glasses;

Here is a 1961 commercial touting the “healthy” aspects of the soft drink.

History

The earliest print reference CooksInfo is aware of to a “Have a Coke Day” in May dates from 2000 in Wisconsin:

“8 Mon: Have a Coke Day happens in honor, no doubt, of Coca-Cola’s invention on this date in 1886, in Atlanta [Ed: the invention allusion is erroneous]. It’s also No Socks Day, so if you’re having a Coke with no socks on, well, you’re doing just great.” — Your week to remember mom. Madison, Wisconsin: Madison Wisconsin State Journal. 7 May 2000. Page G2, col. 2. 

The reason for the 8th of May date appears to be that, according to the Coca-Cola company, that is the date that Coca-Cola first went on sale:

“On May 8, 1886, Dr. John Pemberton sold the first glass of Coca-Cola at Jacobs’ Pharmacy in downtown Atlanta.” — Accessed May 2021 from Coca-Cola History at https://www.coca-colacompany.com/company/history

Sources

104.1 KBRE Radio. Today is National “Have a Coke Day”. 8 May 2018. Accessed April 2021 at http://www.krbe.com/2018/05/08/today-is-national-have-a-coke-day/

National Have A Coke Day. Roodeport, South Africa: Roodepoort Record. 8 May 2017. Accessed April 2021 at https://roodepoortrecord.co.za/2017/05/08/national-have-a-coke-day/