Mamma mia! Nintendo’s most famous mustachioed character has a day all for himself.

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Mario Day is officially recognized on March 10, or MAR10, celebrating nearly 40 years of the flying, jumping, mushroom-chasing hero.

Several retailers have bought into the day over the years and have special deals on Mario and other Nintendo-related merchandise.

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So follow us down the green pipe as we explore 9 interesting facts about Mario on his special day.

1. Mario made his debut in the 1981 Nintendo arcade game Donkey Kong. He was created by Shigeru Miyamoto.

2. His original name was actually Jumpman, but Miyamoto eventually decided to name him Mario after the landlord of Nintendo’s American warehouse.

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3. Mario is famously known as a plumber, but his originally occupation was a carpenter. He’s held many jobs over the years though, including doctor.

4. Mario has appeared in over 200 titles since the 1980s on various gaming systems.

5. We all know Mario as the lovable good guy who tries to save Princess Peach from a castle, but it wasn’t always that way. Mario was actually the bad guy in the 1982 game Donkey Kong Jr.

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6. The oft-maligned 1993 movie “Super Mario Bros.” made history as the first film adaptation of a video game.

7. If the 1993 movie adaptation wasn’t your cup of tea, don’t worry, another film adaptation is on the way. An animated Super Mario Bros. movie is heading to theaters this Christmas from Universal and Illumination, the studio behind “Despicable Me.” It will feature the voices of Chris Pratt as Mario, Charlie Day as Luigi, Anya-Taylor Joy as Princess Peach, Seth Rogen as Donkey Kong and Jack Black as Mario’s nemesis Bowser.

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8. Mario and the rest of his friends from the Mushroom Kingdom have a home at Universal Studios Japan. Super Mario World officially opened there a year ago. It features Mario Kart and Yoshi-themed rides and attractions, restaurants, shops and more. Super Mario World is expected to be part of Epic Universe, Universal Orlando Resort’s fourth theme park that will open by the summer of 2025.

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Super Nintendo World (Universal Studios Japan)

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9. Various retailers celebrate Mario Day with deals on Nintendo games and accessories, such Best Buy, Target, GameStop and Nintendo online. Click here to check out some of the deals.

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