Mexican holidays and traditions

If you are traveling to Mexico, you will be amazed by the culture and by the different festivities we have. Is important that you have the following events in mind in case you are around for the following dates so that you better understand these Mexican Traditions.

Jan 6th:  Dia de los Reyes Magos (The Day of the Kings, we celebrate the day when the Magic Kings brought gifts to baby Jesus, families and friends usually get together and eat a traditional bread prepared especially for this day "Rosca de Reyes".

   

Not only is this bread unique for this day, but it also, inside it has mini baby Jesus, that if you get them the slice of bread you get, it represents blessings for all your coming year. Whoever gets the baby Jesus inside must make a dinner with tamales on Feb 2nd, explained below.

Feb 2nd: Dia de la Candelaria (The holiday marks the end of the Christmas season in Mexico. Families and friends get together to eat Tamales, provided by the people who got the baby Jesus on Jan 6th.)

Tamales

Feb 24th: Dia de la Bandera (Feb. 24th is Mexican Flag Day, this is a National holiday to celebrate the institution of the Mexican Flag.)  

First Sunday of March : Dia de la Familia (Family Day - This is a new holiday that is becoming very popular in Mexico, establish in 2005 by president Vicente Fox, this day is to reflect and value the importance of family and family values in our life)

Mar 21th: Natalicio de Benito Juarez (Benito Juarez Birthday - Often hailed as the Abraham Lincoln of Mexico and the first Indio president, this is National Holiday in Mexico)

May 1st: Dia del Trabajo (Labor Day - Very similar celebration to the one in the US)

May 5th: Patalla de Puebla (Puebla's War - Mexico celebrates the victory against the French and the beginning of Mexican liberation. This is more like an American Holiday, in Mexico is not an actual Holiday day)

May 10th: Dia de las Madres (Mother's Day - This day is dedicated to all the mothers, it's always May the 10th, whichever day of the week it is. Women who are mother's usually get the day off at work)

Sep 15th (night): Dia del Grito ("The Cry" for freedom of more than 200 years ago Sept 15, brought independence, this is a big Mexican Celebration, as families and friends get together to celebrate every Sept 15th at night)

Sep 16th: Dia de la Independencia (Independence Day)

Nov 2nd: Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead - this day is celebrate to remember all loved ones that have passed away, and you usually go to the cemetery with all your family to pray for those who have died. As an old Mexican traditions some people make an altar to remember their loved ones. There's a typical bread for this day too)



Altar de Muertos



Pan de Muertos





Nov 20th: Dia de la Revolucion (Revolution Day - Celebrating the Revolution of 1917, that brought Mexico the current edition of government)

Dec 12th: Dia de la Virgen de Guadalupe (Virgen Guadalupe's Day - This is the celebration for the day of the appearance of the Virgin of Guadalupe in Mexico.)

Dec 12th-24th Las Posadas: (Commemorates the Biblical New Testament story of Joseph and Mary's search for shelter in Bethlehem. Consists of candlelight processions as well as stops at various nativity scenes. Family and friends get together to pray and this is a preparation for Christmas. It usually has tamales and pinata)

Dec 24th: Nochebuena y Navidad (Christmas Eve and Christmas)