Mexican Holidays
Mexicans have many statutory holidays that are observed throughout the country. These are a great way to spend time with your family while enjoying a day off.
The most popular statutory holiday is Independence Day, celebrated on September 16th. This is a patriotic holiday, and parades are held all over Mexico.
Independence Day
The national holiday in Mexico, Mexican Independence Day, celebrates the “Cry of Dolores” by Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla on September 16, 1810. It was a call for rebellion against the Spanish Empire and started a war for independence that lasted 11 years.
Today, Mexico’s celebrations take on many forms – from fireworks to charro cowboy parades. Revelers are often clad in red, white, and green to honor the Mexican flag.
Food is an integral part of the festivities. Some standard options include tamales, pozole (hominy and pork soup), queso fundido, birria de borrego, and chips with guacamole and salsa.
Christmas
Christmas is a holiday that celebrates the birth of Jesus. It is a religious and cultural festival that is celebrated throughout the world.
In Mexico, Christmas combines both Christian and pre-Christian traditions. In many places, it is also a secular holiday associated with giving gifts and spending time with family.
The Christmas holiday season lasts from December 25th through January 7th. The word Christmas comes from Cristes maesse, the name of the Catholic tradition of celebrating Christ’s birthday with a special mass ceremony.
Holy Week
In Mexico, the week before Easter is a big holiday called Semana Santa or Holy Week. This is a religious week of special church celebrations, reenactments, and grand street processions that are popular nationwide.
The most important days of the week are Maundy Thursday, Palm Sunday, and Good Friday. During these days, Christians remember Jesus’s triumphant arrival in Jerusalem, his crucifixion, and resurrection on Easter Sunday.
Three Kings’ Day
The Three Kings are a vital part of the Christmas story, and they are celebrated in Latin America and across the globe. The Spanish brought this celebration to the New World after they arrived in 1492, which is still practiced today!
On January 6th, the day after Christmas, children in Mexico leave their shoes with hay for the Three Kings to fill up before they ride back to Bethlehem to deliver gifts. This custom is similar to how children go cookies for Santa in the U.S.
Children also write letters to the three kings. This tradition is ancient and a good way for young kids to learn the importance of being good. However, it has largely been taken over by the Santa Claus holiday in the United States, and it’s not as commonly practiced as it once was!
Our Lady of Guadalupe
Our Lady of Guadalupe is an important symbol for Mexicans and other Latinxs. She represents a connection to their culture, history, and heritage.
She is also the patron saint of Mexico and the Americas. Thousands of people across Mexico and the United States celebrate her feast day on December 12 each year.
The story of Our Lady of Guadalupe originated in 1531 when she appeared to a peasant named Juan Diego on Tepeyac Hill. She told him to go to the bishop and ask for a church to be built in her honor.
Juan Diego returned to the bishop and showed him the roses he had collected and an image of Our Lady. The bishop was convinced, and soon construction on the church began. Today, the cloak that Juan Diego wore that day is enshrined at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Tepeyac Hill in Mexico City.
