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MEXICAN HOLIDAYS
Mexico, our neighbor to the south
does not have an "official" date designated for a "Thanksgiving"
celebration. Perhaps their closest similar Holiday is the "Dia de
la Raza" and this Holiday is observed in October each year.
The following holidays are the
national holidays of Mexico. These are days that banks, schools, and
federal offices may be closed for business. These holidays usually
don't affect the Mexican National Tourism industry and restaurants,
bars, tour companies and etc. are generally open.
Although Mayan's are Mexican
Nationals, they have many of their own celebrations such as the
Mayan Rain Festival, which runs from the 26th of April to the 3rd of
May. This festival honors the Rain God Chac, and his attendant
Chacmool, in welcoming the replenishing rains of springtime. There
are many other local and regional Holidays celebrated throughout the
year all across Mexico and carnavals of every kind are a much
revered part of the Mexican mystic!
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January:
January 1: Año Nuevo (New Year's Day) is an official Mexican
holiday.
January 6: Día de los Santos Reyes is the day when Mexicans
exchange Christmas presents in accordance with the arrival of
the three gift-bearing wise men to Jesus Christ. This day
culminates the Christmas time festivities.
January 17: Feast Day of de San
Antonio de Abad is a religious holiday during which the Catholic
Church allows animals to enter the church for blessing.
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February:
February 2: Día de la
Candelaria or Candlemas is a religious holiday that is
celebrated with processions, dancing, bullfights in certain
cities, and the blessing of the seeds and candles. The
festivities are best seen in: San Juan de los Lagos, Jalapa;
Talpa de Allende, Jalisco; and Santa Maria del Tuxla,
Oaxaca.
February 5: Día de la
Constitución an official holiday that commemorates
Mexico's Constitution.
Carnaval is an official
Mexican holiday that kicks off a five day celebration of the
libido before the Catholic lent. Beginning the weekend
before Lent, Carnaval is celebrated exuberantly with
parades, floats and dancing in the streets. Port towns such
as Ensenada, La Paz, Mazatlán and Veracruz are excellent
places to watch Carnaval festivities. Dates change slightly
as follows: Feb 15-20; 2008: Jan 31 - Feb 5; 2009: Feb
19-24; 2010: Feb 11-16.
February 24: Flag Day, This
Mexican national holiday honors the Mexican flag.
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March:
March
19: St. Joseph's Day, Día de San José, and a religious
holiday best seen in Tamulin, San Luis Potosi.
March
21: The Birthday of Benito Juárez, a famous Mexican
president and national hero, this is an official Mexican
holiday.
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April:
Semana Santa:
Semana Santa is the holy week that ends the 40-day Lent period. This
week includes Good Friday and Easter Sunday. It is Mexican custom to
break confetti-filled eggs over the heads of friends and family
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May:
May 1: Primero
de Mayo is the Mexican national holiday that is equivalent to the
U.S. Labor Day.
May 3: Holy
Cross Day Día de la Santa Cruz, when construction workers decorate
and mount crosses on unfinished buildings, followed by fireworks and
picnics at the construction site.
May 5: Cinco
de Mayo is the Mexican national holiday that honors the Mexican
victory over the French army at Puebla de los Angeles in 1862.
May 10:
Mother's Day, Due to the importance of the mother in Mexican
culture, Mother's Day is an especially significant holiday. |
June:
June 1: Navy
Day is an official Mexican holiday.
June 24: Saint
John the Baptist Day is celebrated with religious festivities,
fairs, and popular jokes connected to getting dunked in water.
June 29:
Fiesta of Saint Peter and Saint Paul notable celebrations in
Mexcaltitán, Nayarit and Zaachila, Oaxaca. |
September:
September 1:
Annual State of the Union, Though this date is an approximation, the
President delivers the address in the autumn.
September 16:
Mexican Independence Day celebrates the day that Miguel Hidalgo
delivered El Grito de Dolores, and announced the Mexican revolt
against Spanish rule. |
October:
October 12:
Día de la Raza, This day celebrates Columbus' arrival to the
Americas, and the historical origins of the Mexican race. |
November:
November 1&2:
Día de los Muertos is an important Mexican holiday that merges
Pre-Columbian beliefs and modern Catholicism. Europe's All Saints'
Day and the Aztec worship of the dead contribute to these two days
that honor Mexico's dead.
November 20:
Mexican Revolution Day, This official Mexican holiday celebrates the
Mexican Revolution of 1910. |
December:
December 12:
Día de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, or the day of the Virgin of
Guadalupe is celebrated with a feast honoring Mexico's patron saint.
December 16:
Las Posadas celebrates Joseph and Mary's search for shelter in
Bethlehem with candlelight processions that end at various nativity
scenes. Las Posadas continues through January 6.
December 25:
Navidad, Mexico celebrates the Christmas holiday. |
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