Popular Mexican Celebrations and 

Mexican Holidays

In this page you will find what are the most important Mexican Celebrations and Mexican Holidays, and useful information about them. There are patriotic, religious, and traditional festivities throughout the year.

Mexico's National Celebrations

This year 2010 is of particular importance for Mexico, as Mexicans celebrate 200 years of start of the Independence movement and 100 years of the Revolution war. The government has prepared a series of cultural events around this year's celebrations.

Mexican Independence Celebrations

Mexico Independence Angel*
The initiation of the independence movement in Mexico started on the morning of the 16th of September of 1810 when the priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla called the people in the town of Dolores Hidalgo in the state of Guanajuato to fight against the Spanish.
This is probably the most important historic date in Mexico, and today is a public holiday and everybody takes the opportunity to buy a Mexican flag, party, and watch the President of Mexico or the local Governor or Major lead a ceremony on the night of the 15th. In the ceremony, the President takes the Mexican flag and goes out in the balcony of the city hall to literally cheer and scream Viva Mexicoand also a series of other Vivas for the national heroes. The people watching from the square also respond Viva. Is a unique experience!
This year the night of the 15th of September is supposed to be an extraordinary event with many more fireworks.

Mexican Revolution Celebrations

Mexico's Revolution monument*
Mexicans celebrate the initiation of the Revolution movement on the 20th of November 1910 by Francisco I Madero. Madero, Emiliano Zapata and other revolutionary leaders opposed President Porfirio Diaz for staying in power and leading a dictatorship for 31 years. Although Porfirio Diaz at one point declared that Mexico was a democracy, he used his power to manipulate interests and remain in control concentrating wealth and power in a selected few.
Today Mexico celebrates its revolution with a holiday and a parade including the Mexican Army and Marines.

Cinco de Mayo / Fifth of May Celebrations

The 5th of May 1862 is in fact a memorable day in Mexican history when the Mexican army defeated in Loreto Forts Puebla an invasion of the French. Mexico in July 1861 stopped paying its debt to France. The French at the time had the most powerful army and debarked in Veracruz Mexico to lead its way to Mexico City.
The fifth of May is not a public holiday in Mexico, although it is taught in schools as a great event in Mexican history. This date is used in the US as a popular day to celebrate Mexican culture with festivals and events.

Christmas Mexican Celebrations

Christmas is truly a Mexican celebrations period. Here are the most traditional festivities.

Posadas

The famous posadas start the 16th of December, and end nine days later on Christmas eve. Posadas are family and friends get-togethers with food, games and piñatas.
The most traditional activity is a procession that represent the travel journey that St. Joseph and the Virgin Mary had the on the days prior of the birth of baby Jesus. The activity is done by two groups singing to each other. One group stays inside the house and another group outside for a few doors (stations)., and the other group stays outside representing Joseph and Mary asking for lodging. The group inside denies hosting the strangers until the last door when they open the doors and all happily sing.

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve is when Mexicans celebrate Christmas. On the night of the 24th of December, families get together to have the last posada , for the traditional Christmas dinner and to exchange gifts.
Many of the state in the north of the country follow the American / European tradition of Santa Claus so the night of Christmas eve is when Santa Claus delivers its gifts.

Dia de Reyes

Mexicans also celebrate Dia de Reyes or wisemen Day which represent the arrival of the wise men from the East to visit the recently born baby Jesus. Kids get presents or candy on the morning of the 6th and at night family gets together to cut and eat the traditional rosca de reyes (king's bread). This ring shape bread has plastic figures with a meaning. The standard figures are: a plastic boy, a ring and a thimble. If you get the boy you will have to pay for the party on the 2nd of February when Mexicans celebrate Candle Mass (La Candelaria) . The ring means that you will get marry soon, and the thimble that you will not get marry any time soon.

Holy Week Mexican Celebrations

Holy week Mexico celebrations*
Holy week is a huge celebration for all Mexico since Mexico has primarily a Catholic population. There are many traditions around the country with processions, and representation of the death of Jesus. One of the most famous traditions is the personification of Jesus and Calvary walk in Iztapalapa a sector in Mexico City. The representation is famous for being so real!
These events happen on Good Friday. On Sunday, Mexicans celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and it culminates Holy Week with an spectacular mass.

Day of the Death Mexican Celebrations

Day of the death in Patzcuaro*
The day of the death is celebrated on the 2nd of November to honor loved ones that have passed away. People offer to their death relatives flowers, and even food. Tradition says that people make altars to their death relatives to ask for pending forgiveness. There are many places where this tradition is still alive, but the most recognize place is Patzcuaro in the state of Michoacan.
Even in families where this tradition is not followed, many still honor their death family by visiting the cemetery on this day.
This celebration is directly related to all saints day which happens on the 1st of November.

Virgin of Guadalupe Mexican Celebrations

Basilica de Guadalupe Mexico*
The Virgin of Guadalupe appeared to a Mexican indigenous, San Juan Diego, on 1531 in the Tepeyac hill according to history. During a series of apparitions, the Virgin asked for a shrine to be built, and promised to give love, compassion and intercession for the people in this land as well as all human kind.
This event had a major significance to the Mexican people at the time, and it is believed to have had an impact on the spread of Catholic faith in Mexico.
Today there is great faith on the Virgin of Guadalupe's power to intercede mainly in Mexico but also around the world. Mexicans celebrate her day on the 12th of December and on this date, there are many people who visit the Basilica near Mexico City to honor her and ask her to intercede.

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