National Fruit Cocktail Day is a United States observance that occurs annually on December 18. The day celebrates the fruit cocktail, a beverage made from a blend of fruits canned in syrup or natural fruit juices.

The history of the fruit cocktail is unknown, but the drink is thought to have originated in the early 1900s. The first recorded recipe for a fruit cocktail appeared in a 1904 issue of the Chicago Daily Tribune. The drink became popular during the …