Seasonal holidays in Mexico - Mexico holidays and festivals

If you're looking to escape the cold this winter and enjoy some sunny weather, why not consider spending your holidays in Mexico? There are a variety of seasonal holidays throughout the country that offer something for everyone. Whether you're interested in music, dance, food, or history, there's sure to be a holiday celebration that appeals to you. And with so many different regions to explore, you'll never be bored. Keeping read on to learn more about Seasonal holidays in Mexico - Mexico holidays and festivals.

There are three primary types of public holidays in Mexico:

• Statutory holidays are celebrated across Mexico. Employees are entitled to a paid day off, and schools (both public and private) are closed for the day.

• Civic holidays are celebrated nationally, however workers are not entitled to a paid day off, and schools (public and private) remain open.

• Festivities are traditional holidays that commemorate religious events such as Carnival, Holy Week, Easter, and so on, or public festivities such as Mother's Day, Father's Day, Valentine's Day, and so on.

January

New year’s day (año nuevo)

Mexico, along with the majority of the world, celebrates New Year's Day on January 1st. Families conventionally gather together to share a meal and stories from the prior night. Given that New Year's Day is a day off for many employees, don't be startled if it seems more hectic than normal.

Epiphany (dia de los reyes magos)

The Epiphany, signifying the end of Christmas festivities, arrives on January 6. On this day in Mexico, many people feast on rosca de reyes (king's cake). The oval-shaped delicacy is meant to pay homage to the Three Kings in crown form and often contains a small figurine symbolizing Jesus Christ. According to custom, whoever ingests the Jesus piece should be responsible for hosting a fiesta come Día de la Candelaria.

February

Candlemass (día de la candelaria)

Candlemass is a day of religious festivities that takes place on February 2 in Mexico. Families and loved ones come together to share a meal of tomales, and some may also dress a baby Jesus figure and take it to their church.

Constitution day (día de la constitución)

Mexican workers have the day off on Constitution Day, which occurs on the first Monday in February. This holiday commemorates when the country's constitution went into law in 1917. You'll probably see festivities taking place all over Mexico, such as picnics, parties, family gatherings, and festivals.

Valentine’s day (día del amor y la armistad)

Valentine's day is celebrated on February 14. In Mexico, the holiday is observed in a similar way to other countries: with chocolates, roses, dates, heartfelt messages, and romance. However, there is also a focus on the love between friends in Mexico, so it wouldn't be out of place to send a message of goodwill to your buddies as well.

Mexican army day (día del ejército)

February 19 is Mexican Army Day, commemorating the Mexican Army's founding in 1913 and the 1911 Loyalty March, led by military cadets to stand with President Francisco Madero. On this day, you can attend parades and ceremonies paying tribute to Mexico's fallen soldiers.

Flag day (día de la bandera)

Dia de la Bandera, which occurs on February 24, is a day of patriotism in Mexico. On this day, you will likely see many Mexican flags hung across the country. You may also see one or more parades in which crowds will salute the flag as it passes by.

See more: UK bank holidays 2023

March

Anniversary of the oil expropriation (aniversario de la expropiación petrolera)

The anniversary of the oil expropriation falls on March 18 every year. The holiday commemorates when former Mexican president Lázaro Cárdenas signed an order that took control of most of the foreign oil companies working in Mexico.

Benito juarez’s birthday (natalicio de benito juárez)

The third Monday of March is a public holiday in Mexico commemorating the birthday of Benito Juarez- an indigenous Zapotec who later became the 26th president of Mexico. He was celebrated for his political efforts and advocacy for democracy, and he achieved many social changes during his presidency. Many Mexicans use the long weekend to take trips or spend time with their families.

Semana santa and pascua

Mexican Easter-time celebrations are divided into two very special weeks: Semana Santa and Pascua. Businesses and schools often close during this religious period, while families will take the chance to have a vacation together.

Semana Santa celebrations include parades, ceremonies, rituals, and dramatic reenactments while some towns have their own unique way of celebrating it. Pascua is a calmer week when Mexican families tend to take their vacations.

April

Heroic defense of veracruz (heroica defensa de veracruz)

This civic holiday, which happens yearly on April 21, celebrates the cadets and navy personnel from both the Heroica Escuela Naval Militar and Mexican Navy. These individuals attempted to defend Veracruz after it was occupied by the United States in 1914.

Children’s day (día del niño)

Children's Day is a day of celebration for kids all around the world, which occurs April 30. On this special day, parents might buy their children presents while schools host mini celebrations with fun games and treats. Children can simply enjoy eating candy and playing to their heart's content.

See more: State holiday 2023

May

Labor day (día del trabajo)

Celebrated on May 1, Labor day or Dia del Trabajo is a Mexican national holiday in honor of the country's workforce. As most other public holidays, Mexicans will take this opportunity to relax with loved ones.

Fifth of may (cinco de mayo)

Many people across the globe mistakenly believe that fifth of May, or Cinco de Mayo, celebrates Mexican Independence Day. However, this date commemorates the Mexican victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla. The largest celebrations related to this event occur in Puebla—where the battle took place - and generally include parades, reenactments, and other festive activities.

Miguel hidalgo’s birthday (natalicio de miguel hidalgo)

The 8th of May marks the birthday of Miguel Hidalgo, a leader during the Mexican revolution nicknamed The Father of Mexican Independence.

Mothers’ day (día de las madres)

In Mexico, Mothers Day is celebrated on May 10 and typically consists of children giving their mothers gifts of flowers or chocolates. Additionally, many families will get together for a large meal - often with traditional Mexican dishes.

Teachers’ day (día del maestro)

For over a hundred years, Mexico has celebrated Teachers' Day on May 15th. This day either involves schools shutting down or having fun activities for both the kids and teachers. As an expression of gratitude, some students will also bring presents for their teachers.

Students’ day (día del estudiante)

Mexico's Students' Day on May 23 is a holiday celebrating the freedom to learn.

June

National maritime day (día de la marina)

National Maritime Day, celebrated on June 1st to commemorate the Mexican Navy and civil maritime sectors, features flying flags at government buildings nationwide. Unsurprisingly, it is especially popular in coastal regions where revelers might enjoy parades, fireworks, or dances.

Fathers’ day (día del padre)

On the third Sunday of June every year, Mexico celebrates all its dads with Fathers' Day. It's common for families to spend time together and have a meal on this holiday, and fathers may receive presents from their kids.

July and August

There are no holidays in Mexico during the months of July or August.

September

Anniversary of the boy heroes (dia de los niño’s héroes)

The yearly anniversary of the young heroes who died defending Mexico City's Chapultepec Castle against the United States Army falls on September 13th. The day, Dia de los Niño's Héroes, pays tribute to six teenage cadets who gave their lives for their country. History tells us that the last boy standing, Juan Escuti, chose to jump from the castle rather than hand over the Mexican flag to US troops.

Cry of dolores (el grito de dolores)

El Grito, also known as the Cry of Dolores, is commemorated on September 15 every year. It honors the moment when independence leader Miguel Hidalgo rang his church bell and called for Mexicans to rise up against Colonial occupation.

Sometimes, El Grito may take place in the town of Dolores Hidalgo if it's a significant anniversary being celebrated that year. If you travel to other Mexican cities or towns during this time, you might hear local government officials reenacting their own El grito.

Independence day (día de la independencia)

Independence Day - one of the big September holidays in Mexico - is celebrated on September 16 with a spectacular show of sound, light, and color. Street parties, fireworks displays, flowers, and flags are common sights across the country.

Morelos’ birthday (natalicio de josé ma. Morelos y pavón)

The city of Morelia celebrates the birthday of Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon on September 30 with street stalls, food, local shows, and more. School children will form a parade down the main streets accompanied by drums and bugles.

October

The day of the race (día de la raza)

The Day of the Race, which is a celebration of Mexico's indigenous people that takes place on October 12th as an alternative to Columbus Day. In some areas of Mexico, natives will wear their traditional clothing and gather together to celebrate the day.

November

Day of the dead (dia de muertos)

Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos, is widely celebrated in Mexico on November 2. Families create altars with pictures of their deceased loved ones, as well as their favorite foods and drinks.

Marigolds are also often placed around these altars and gravesites as they're believed to guide the spirit back home. You may see special Day of the Dead processions known as calaveras which feature people dressed up in skeleton costumes and Face painting is also a huge part of this holiday!

November 1st is typically commemorated as Dia de los Inocentes (Day of the Innocents) or Dia de los Angelitos (Day of the Little Angels), which pays tribute to children who have passed away.

Revolution day (día de la revolución)

Revolution Day, which occurs on November 20, celebrates the start of the Mexican Revolution. Each city will have its own festivities, including parades and ceremonies.

Mexican navy day (dia de la armada de mexico)

Mexico's Navy Day, which occurs annually on November 23, bis a day to honor the country's navy with parades and ceremonies. To get the best experience, travel to one of Mexico's coastal towns.

December

Day of the virgin guadalupe (día de la virgen de guadalupe)

The day of the Virgin Guadalupe, which falls on December 12th, is celebrated annually to commemorate when Juan Diego met the Virgin Mary in Mexico City back in 1531. According to legend, Mary asked Juan Diego to build a church atop Tepeyac Hill and since then, yearly festivities have been held throughout Mexico not only by Catholics but by anyone wishing to join in honoring this miracle.

Las posadas

If you want to experience a traditional Mexican Christmas, you can't miss out on a posada. Posadas take place from December 16-24 and involve activities like singing traditional songs, striking piñatas, and consuming food and drink.

Christmas eve (nochebuena)

Christmas Eve or Nochebuena, falls on December 24th, is one of the biggest December holidays in Mexico. The end of the posadas will be celebrated by Mexican families coming together for a traditional Christmas meal complete with gifts from baby Jesus. While some Christians may attend Midnight Mass, also called Misa de Gallo.

Christmas day (navidad)

Christmas day occurs annually on December 25. The biggest Christmas festivities happen on December 24 in Mexico, so Christmas Day is typically a family day where workers have time off to relax and enjoy leftover food from the night before.

Day of the innocents (dia de los santos inocentes)

December 28, known as Day of the Innocents, is similar to April Fools' Day in that it's a day for playing practical jokes. However, this holiday actually commemorates the story of King Herod ordering the execution of all baby boys in an attempt to kill Baby Jesus.

New year’s eve (víspera de año nuevo)

In Mexico, the new year is welcomed with a splash on December 31. Fireworks explode across the country, including in Mexico City's capital, and are accompanied by many street parties. If you visit at this time, you may also partake or witness the eating of 12 grapes at midnight. According to tradition (or maybe just superstition), if you manage to eat all twelve grapes within 60 seconds, all your wildest dreams will come true12 wishes granted).

FAQs Seasonal holidays in Mexico

What are the three most popular Mexican holidays?

Top 3 Mexican holidays:

• Day of the Dead, or Día de Muertos, is one of Mexico's most joyous holidays.

• Mexico celebrates its independence from Spain every year on Independence Day. This festival marks the beginning of a ten-year period in which Mexico fought for its freedom.

• Cinco de Mayo.

What do Mexicans do for Christmas?

The traditional star-shaped piñata is broken by children during the Posadas. Just like the procession, the Mexican Piñatas have a very symbolic and deep meaning. The vessel that they use to hit represents Satan, who has all of the material goods in this world inside of him, and he is decorated elaborately to attract people.

What are three Mexican festival customs?

Good food, music, and parties are always central to Mexican holidays like Independence Day and Dia de los Muertos. If you're considering a trip south of the border, take some time to learn about Mexico's most important customs and celebrations.

What are Mexico's unique holiday customs?

The term for holiday parties in Mexico is posadas, not fiestas. Dishes you may find at a Mexican celebration include tamales, bunuelos, romeritos and pozole. A piñata is also a common sight at these gatherings.

Conclusion

Mexico is home to a host of unique seasonal holidays in mexico 2023 that are celebrated throughout the year. From Day of the Dead to Christmas, there is always something special going on in Mexico. If you're planning a trip to Mexico, be sure to check out our guide to the best times of year to visit. We can help you find the perfect vacation rental for your needs and budget. Contact us today to get started planning your next Mexican adventure!