MEXICAN NATIONAL HOLIDAYS AND FESTIVALS

A list of a number of government recognized holidays when banks, post offices, government offices, and many shops and businesses are closed.

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January 1- Año Nuevo - New Year's Day
February 5- Día de la Constitución - Constitution Day
February 24- Día de la Bandera - Flag Day
March 21- Día de Nacimiento de Benito Juárez - Birthday of Benito Juárez
May 1- Día del Trabajo - Labor Day
May 5- Cinco de Mayo - The celebration of Mexico's victory over the French army at Puebla in 1862.
May 10- Día de la Madre - Mother's Day
September 16- Día de la Independencia - Independence Day - commemorating the beginning of Mexico's war of independence from Spain.
October 12- Día de la Raza - Means literally "day of the race", commemorating Columbus' discovery of the New World and the founding of the Mexican (mextizo) people.
November 1- Informe Presidencial - the President's state of the nation address to the legislature, coinciding with the Catholic "Día de Todos Santos(All Saints' Day)
November 20- Día de la Revolución - Revolution Day - Anniversary of the Mexican Revolution of 1910.
December 25- Día de Navidad - Christmas Day

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OTHER NATIONAL CELEBRATIONS
Though not official holidays, some of the following are among the most important festivals in the Mexican calendar.

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January 6- Día de los Reyes Magos - Three Kings' Day - Traditionally children have received gifts on this day, rather than on Christmas

February 2- Día de la Candelaría - Candlelight processions and dancing in many towns.

Late February or Early March- Carnaval - Carnival
This is held the week or so before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. This is similar to the celebrations held during this period in other countries.

March or April- Semana Santa - Holy Week
The week before Easter is one of Mexico's biggest holiday periods, beginning on Palm Sunday and and ending on Easter. Millions of Mexicans take the family on a "holiday" during this period.

November 2- Día de los Muertos - Day of the Dead
On this day the souls of the departed are believed to return to earth. Families visit graveyards on the preceding night and on the day itself.

December 12- Día de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe- Day of Our Lady of Guadalupe
Our Lady of Guadalupe is Mexico's national patroness. The Virgin Mary appeared to an Indian, Juan Diegos on this date in 1531.

December 16-24- Posadas - Posadas are literally "inns", but in this case they refer to parades that commemorate the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem.