National Hoagie Day — 5 May

Cinco de Hoagie?

Well, sort of. After all, we do celebrate National Hoagie Day on May 5. These monster sandwiches, filled with a variety of meats, cheeses, vegetables, seasonings and sauces, come on a long Italian roll or French bread. Italian workers, who lived in a section of Philadelphia known as Hog Island, introduced the sandwich in 1953.

At least that’s one theory. 

This instant classic became known as the “Hog Island” sandwich — later shortened to hoagie. But that’s just one nickname. Read on to learn about other quite colorful names for this extremely popular treat.