Mexico fiestas & public holidays
Every town and village in Mexico has a fiesta. These are often raucous affairs lasting several days. The principal holidays are carnival, celebrated in February/March with costumes and parades, notably in Veracruz and Mazatlan. Easter week (Semana Santa) and Christmas are taken very seriously all over Mexico. Other major occasions are Independence Day (September 16th) and the Day of the Dead (November 1st).
January 1st: New Year´s Day
Janury 6th: Dia de los Reyes Magos (Epiphany). This is the day that gifts are traditionally exchanged representing the day that the Three Kings arrived at the nativity to give their gifts to baby Jesus. This is also a day when the Rosca de Reyes (king's loaf) is served. It is a round, doughnut-like bread topped with dried fruits, which contains little plastic figures representing baby Jesus hidden somewhere inside. By tradition, if you are served the slice that contains one of these figures, you must host a party on Dia de la Candelaria in February.
February 2nd: Dia de la Candelaria (Candlemass). This day is celebrated nationally with dance, music and food, as well as other local festivities, to mark the passing of winter. Those who were served the plastic figure in the Rosca de Reyes should host a party on this day serving tamales (corn paste with salted or sweet savory fillings) and atole (hot thick beverage made of corn paste combined with water or milk, crushed fruit and sugar).
February 5th: Dia de la Constitucion (Constitution Day). Marks the day Mexico drew up and enacted its new constitution as a free nation.
February 24th: Day of the Flag.
Late February/Early March: Carnaval. It takes place 46 days before Easter Sunday (3rd day preceding Ash Wednesday), and is marked with parades, dancing, music, processions, food and fireworks. It is especially big in Veracruz, La Paz, Mazatlan and Cozumel.
Holy Week: From Ash Wednesday (beginning of Lent) through to the week after Easter Sunday is a busy time! Everywhere you go there will be processions, festivals, parties, fireworks and more!
March 21st: Spring Equinox: Many archaeological sites are popular on the 20th - 22nd of March, as the sun's light matches up with features on the structures left behind by the ancient civilizations. The most famous is Chichen Itza, where a shadow of the plumed serpent Kukulkan moves up the main temple.
March 21st: Natalicio Benito Juarez. Birthdate of one of Mexico's most famous and revered heroes. Festivities are practiced nationwide, especially in Oaxaca, where he was born.
April: Cuernavaca Flower Fair.
April: San Marcos Fair in Aguascalientes. This is Mexico's largest fair, including rodeos, music, dance, food and drinks.
April 30th: Children's Day in Mexico. It is traditional to give children small presents on this day.
May 1st: Dia del Trabajo (Labor Day). The principal trade unions march to Mexico City's main square, the Zocalo.
May 5th: Cinco de Mayo, Batalla de Puebla. Celebrated in the colonial city of Puebla, commemorating the defeat of the French Army at the Battle of Puebla.
May 10th: Mother's Day in Mexico. Although this is not a holiday, most people take a half day off to take their mother out and celebrate this event.
May: Cancun Jazz Festival.
June: Corpus Christi. Celebrated nationally, this event honours the body of Christ, and is marked with processions, celebrations, music, food and dancing. If you happen to be near the archaeological site of El Tajin, you'll have a chance to see the famous Voladores de Papantla or flying dancers. In Mexico City, celebrations centre around the Zocalo, Cathedral and National Palace.
June 1st: Dia de la Marina (Navy Day). In costal towns or cities, on June 1st, you will probably see parties and firework displays celebrating the Navy Day.
July: Guelaguetza in Oaxaca. This dance festival features beautiful local costumes, music, dance and food. Simply unique!
July/August: International Chamber Music Festival in San Miguel de Allende.
August 15th: Dia de la Asuncion de la Virgen de Guadalupe (Ascension Day). Celebrated nationally, it is one of Mexico's most important religious events. The Virgen de Guadalupe is venerated by Catholics. Special masses and processions take place nationwide, mainly with a monumental mass at the Basilica de Guadalupe (where the original image is hosted), in Mexico City.
In 1531 the Virgin appeared to Juan Diego, a Mexican Indian saint. The original shrine (Basilica) was finished in 1709. With the years, it started sinking on it foundations, so it was not a safe worship place anymore. A new shrine was built in 1976 with round shape, so it is possible to admire the image of the Virgin from every angle.
September 16th: Dia de la Independencia (Independence Day). Indisputably, Mexico's most important and most revered nationwide holiday. Fiestas Patrias begin on the evening of September 15th . At 11pm, the President gives the Cry (El Grito ) of "Viva Mexico" from the main balcony of the National Palace, as Mexicans cry back with "Viva!" in an emotion-packed traditional annual ritual. For several minutes, the Zocalo in Mexico City brims and buzzes with unabated excitement. Celebrations are particularly lively in Queretaro and San Miguel de Allende, important and significant places before, during and after the Independence War.
September 21st: Autumn Equinox. Many archaeological sites are popular on the 21st and 22nd , as the sun's light matches up with features on the structures left behind by the ancient civilizations. The most famous is Chichen Itza, where a shadow of the plumed serpent ‘Kukulkan' moves up the main temple.
October 12th: Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day). Commemorates Columbus' discovery of the "new world".
October: Festival Cervantino, In the colonial city of Guanajuato, a feast of music, dance, entertainment and art performed by internationally acclaimed artists, from as far away as India or China.
October: Fiestas de Octubre. Guadalajara is the birthplace of the Mariachi, and it is celebrated all month.
November 1st and 2nd: Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead). The country's most characteristic fiesta is the wonderfully macabre Dia de los Muertos. This event encompasses two days: All Saint's Day, and All Souls Day. The former honours all saints and people who died as children, and the latter is for souls who died in adulthood. If you are in Mexico around this time, expect to see sugar-candy skulls, skeletons and Pan de Muerto (Bread of the Dead) advertised at shops and supermarkets. Relatives of those who died gather at cemeteries throughout Mexico, bringing candles, pictures and music, along with bread, fruit, tequila, beer and favourite dishes of the people they are remembering. The mood is far from morbid: it is lively and upbeat!
November 20th: Dia de la Revolucion (Revolution Day). A major national holiday, which commemorates the end of the Revolution War in 1910. The day is marked with a big parade in Mexico City's Zocalo, speeches and a few official ceremonies.
December 12th: Dia de la Virgen de Guadalupe. Not a public holiday, still one of Mexico's biggest religious events. Monumental mass and celebrations take place in honour of Guadalupe Virgin, Mexico's patron saint.
December: Posadas Navideñas . Posadas are parties organized throughout the nine days before Christmas Day. Posadas re-enact Mary & Joseph's search for an inn, knocking door to door asking for accom-modation before baby Jesus was born. Children and adults do the same, going door-to-door holding candles and singing a traditional carol, requesting a warm and safe place to stay. Eventually they get to the arranged house, and a party ensues therein.
December: Christmas. The Christmas period starts around the 12th (Virgin of Guadalupe Day) and continues right through until early in the New Year on January 6th (Reyes Magos Day). Parties, celebrations and processions are evident everywhere you go.
December 25th: Dia de Navidad (Christmas Day).
December 31st: New Year's Eve. Mexico City's Zocalo square becomes as lively at it gets on New year's Eve. We suggest you not to wear your fine clothes - it is traditional to throw empty eggshells filled with confetti. Colonial towns are particularly atmospheric at this time.