HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVALS IN MEXICO January 1 New Year's Day Año nuevo - Celebrates New Year's Day
January 6 Day of the Holy Kings (Three Wise Men) Dia de los Santos Reyes - Celebrates the arrival of the Three Wise Men who they came to see the King (meaning Jesus as a child) and brought gifts for the child. Traditionally, kids receive toys and people buy a pastry called La rosca de reyes. If they bite in the bread and find the mini-doll of Baby Jesus, you must host a party for the Day of Candelaria.
February 5 Constitution Day Día de la Constitución - Celebrates the ratification of the Constitution of 1917, adopted after the Mexican Revolution.
February 14 Valentine's Day Día de San Valentín - On this day, traditionally, men give chocolates, flowers, jewelry, dinner and serenade to their special women, as well as to their female friends. It is not an official holiday.
February 24 Flag Day Día de la Bandera - Adoption of the Mexican flag with the tricolors of green, white, and red with the coat of arms of a golden eagle fighting against a serpent on top of a cactus. Flag Day was implemented by President of Mexico Lázaro Cárdenas in 1937.
March 18 Oil Expropriation Expropiación Petrolera - President Lázaro Cárdenas expropriated foreign-held oil wells to facilitate Mexico's industrial development in 1938. It is not an official holiday.
March 21 Benito Juárez's Birthday Natalicio de Benito Juárez - Birthday of Benito Juárez, 19th century president and statesman who stood against the French intervention in Mexico. See also Maximilian of Mexico.
April 30 Children's Day Día del Niño - Mexicans honoring all the children throughout the country. It is not an official holiday.
May 1 Labour Day Día del Trabajo - Commemorates the Haymarket Riot of 1886.
May 5 Cinco de Mayo - Batalla de Puebla Celebrates the victory against French forces in the city of Puebla, on May 5, 1862. Also widely celebrated in the United States. US "celebration" of this Mexican historical event is largely a result of promotions in the US by liquor, beer, and bars/taverns/clubs/restaurants since the 1980s. For many years Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the US promoted Cinco de Mayo as Mexican Independence Day which is actually September 16. Many, perhaps most, Mexican citizens are only vaguely aware of the meaning of Cinco de Mayo with the exception of those residing in the State of Puebla. Cinco de Mayo is not a national holiday in Mexico. It is an official holiday in the State of Puebla.
May 10 Mother's Day Día de la Madre - Mexicans honoring all the mothers throughout the country. It is not an official holiday.
May 15 Teacher's Day Día del Maestro - Mexicans honoring all the teachers throughout the country. It is not an official holiday.
Third Sunday of June Father's Day Día del Padre - Mexicans honoring all the fathers throughout the country. It is not an official holiday.
September 15 Shout of Dolores Grito de Dolores - Celebrates the Grito de Dolores, an event that marked the start of the independence war against Spain on the eve of September 16, 1810. It took place at a church chapel in Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato, led by a creole catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. See also Fiestas Patrias (Mexico).
September 16 Independence Day Día de la Independencia - Celebrates the annivesary of the Mexican War of Independence against Spain on September 16, 1810. See also Fiestas Patrias (Mexico).
October 12 Columbus Day Día de la Raza - Commemorates the discovery of America in 1492 by the Italian navigator Christopher Columbus. It is not an official holiday. See also La Raza.
November 1 All Saints' Day Todos los Santos - Mexicans honor their dead relatives and/or friends (who were less than 18 years of age and unmarried) with candles, food & flower offerings, altars, and pre-Hispanic and Christian rituals. It is not an official holiday.
November 2 All Souls' Day Los Fieles Difuntos - Mexicans honor their dead relatives and/or friends (who were more than 18 years of age and married) with candles, food & flower offerings, altars, and pre-Hispanic and Christian rituals. It is not an official holiday.
November 20 Revolution Day Día de la Revolución - Celebrates the beginning of the Mexican Revolution in 1910. See also Fiestas Patrias (Mexico).
December 12 Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe - Celebrates the day that Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared on Tepeyac hill to the native Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin. It is not an official holiday.
December 24 Christmas Eve Nochebuena - Celebrates the eve of the nativity of Jesus, as secular winter holiday. The traditional treats for this holiday are tamales and atole or champurrado. Las Posadas are celebrated nine days before Nochebuena, accompanied by a piñata party for the kids and dance music for the adults.
December 25 Christmas Navidad - Celebrates the nativity of Jesus, also celebrated as secular winter holiday.
December 28 Los Santos Inocentes - Day of the Holy Innocents The day that people pull practical jokes one to another. It is equivalent to the U.S. version of April Fools Day (April 1). People must not believe anything what other people say, nor let them borrow any amount of money. If any person has fallen victim of the joke, the person pulling the joke will say ¡Inocente palomita...! (equivalent to saying April Fools!). According to the Christian religion, King Herrod ordered his soldiers to go to Bethlehem to kill every male child under the age of three (hence the word 'innocents'), fearing that he might be dethroned in the future. Joseph, Mary, and baby Jesus escaped to Egypt before ever the soldiers arrived through Joseph's dream that an angel warned him and his family to flee from their home to avoid danger (The practical joke part has no connection to this story). It is not an official holiday.
