Home >> Index >> Holidays and Fiestas

Holidays and Fiestas
in Mexico

+ National Holiday
Main Index
History
Traditional Dances
Archaelogy of the Oaxacan Coast
Acoustical Phenomena
  Puerto Escondido, Oax., Festival
Feast Days of Saints (link)
Días de los Muertos
All Souls Day (link)
MapsAboutHome
What's New?

Date
Holiday
Description
Jan. 1 + New Years Day
Año Nuevo
Jan. 6 Feast of Epiphany
Día de los Santos Reyes
The three kings bring gifts to the children. End of the Christmas festivities. A rich, twisted bread with a doll hidden inside called roscas de reyes is sold.
Jan. 17 Feast of San Antonio Abad
Día de San Antonio Abad
Honors animals. Pets and livestock are decorated with flowers and ribbons and taken to church to be blessed.
Jan. 20 Feast of San Sebastian Celebrated by the Mixtec indians in Pinotepa Don Luis near Pinotepa Nacional.
Feb. 2 Día de la Candelaria Streets are decorated with lanterns and there are fiestas, parades, and bullfights. Plants, seeds, and candles are blessed.
Feb. 5 + Constitution Day Commemorates the constitutions of 1857 and 1917.
Feb. 24 + Flag Day
The week before Ash Wednesday, usually late Feb. Carnival A five-day celebration beginning the weekend before Lent. Food, music, dancing. This is big in Barra de Navidad, Jalisco.
Mar. 17 Día de San Patricio
Day of St. Patrick
Honors the patron saint of towns with that name, such as San Patricio Melaque, Jalisco, where they have bullfights, fireworks, etc..
Mar. 19 Día de San José
Day of St. Joseph
Honors the patron saint of towns with that name.
Mar. 21 + Birthday of Benito Juárez A Zapotec indian born in Guelatao, Oaxaca, who became governor of Oaxaca and president of Mexico.
Easter Sunday +
is the first Sunday
after the full moon
on or after March 21.
Holy Week
Semana Santa
The week ending with Easter Sunday. A major Mexican holiday with many celebrations in most every town. Many Mexicans go on vacation at this time.
about April 26
to about May 10
Fiesta de Mayo Manzanillo's main celebration with sports events, art exhibits, parades, concerts, native dances, carnival.
April 30 Día del Niño
Childrens' Day
Celebrated in schools with gifts, cakes, candies, piñatas and festivals.
May 1 + Labor Day
Primero de Mayo
Workers parade through the streets.
May 3 Día de la Santa Cruz
Day of the Holy Cross
May 5 + Cinco de Mayo
Batalla de Puebla
Battle of Puebla
The French invasion was defeated at Puebla in 1862. The French were there to collect on a debt but also had designs on establishing an empire in Mexico. This holiday is actually celebrated more by latinos in the U.S.A. than in Mexico.
May 10 + Mother's Day
May 15 Feast of San Isidro Labrador New seeds and animals are blessed.
June 1 + Navy Day
Día de la Marina
Celebrated in Mexican seaports such as in Puerto Angel and Puerto Escondido.
June 1 Feast of Corpus Christi Celebrated in various ways.
June 24 Saint John the Baptist Day Celebrated by dunking and throwing water on one another
June 29 Día de San Pedro Patron saint of San Pedro Amusgos near Pinotepa Nacional. Religious processions and dancing.
The two Mondays following July 16 Lunes del Cerro
Guelaguetza Dance Festival
Dates back to pre-Columbian times, celebrated in the city of Oaxaca. Guelaguetza is a zapotec word meaning to participate and cooperate. [Link to more information]
July 25 Feast of Santiago Patron Saint of Pinotepa Nacional and Xanica. Celebrated in some places with Mexican-style rodeos charreadas.
Aug 5 Fisherman's Day
Día del Pescador
Celebrated in Puerto Angel.
Aug 15 Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary Celebrated with religious processions
Aug 26 Feast of San Agustín Customary to prepare chiles en nogada.
Sep 14 Día de Charro
Cowboy Day
Celebrated throughout Mexico.
Sep 15 Independence Day In the evening, mayors reenact Father Hidalgo's Grito de Delores from city hall balconies.
Sep 16 + Independence Day In 1810, Father Hidalgo y Costilla and his followers initiated an uprising against the Spanish.
1st Sunday
Oct.
Virgin of the RosaryVirgen de la Rosario Celebrated in San Pedro Amusgos near Pinotepa Nacional. Religious processions and dancing.
Oct. 1 Día del Angel
Day of the Angel
A large procession, fireworks, and dancing honors the patron saint of Puerto Angel.
Oct. 4 Día de San Francisco
Day of St. Francis
Honors the patron saint of towns with this name.
Oct. 12 + Columbus Day
Día de la Raza
Celebrating the arrival of Christopher Columbus on the continent.
Nov. 1 Día de Muertos Chiquitos, or
The Day of the Little Dead, and
Día de Todos Santos
All Saints' Day
Begins the celebration of Días de los Muertos by honoring the souls of children.
Nov. 2 Día de los Muertos
Day of the Dead
All Souls' Day
A festive celebration honoring the departed. Graves are decorated with flowers and food.
Nov. 6 - Dec. 10
(approximate)
Puerto Escondido's
November Festival
An annual event featuring beauty contests, sailfishing tournament, surfing competition, native dancing, races, art exhibitions, music.
Nov. 20 + Anniversary of the Mexican Revolution In the revolution of 1910-17, revolutionaries overthrew the dictatorship of General Porfirio Díaz.
Nov. 29 Día de San Andres Patron saint of San Juan Colorado near Pinotepa Nacional. A Mixtec celebration with church services and dancing.
Dec. 1 Inauguration Day Occurs every 6 years: 2000, 2006, etc.
Dec. 12 Feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe
Día de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
Mexico's patron saint
Dec. 12 + Flag Day Honoring the flag of Mexico.
Dec. 16 Las Posadas Candlelight processions celebrating Joseph and Mary's search for shelter in Bethlehem. Celebrations continue through January 6.
Dec. 18 Virgen de Soledad A fiesta honoring Oaxaca's patron saint and protector of fishermen. Celebrated in Puerto Escondido.
Dec. 23 Noche de Rabano
Night of the Radishes
Celebrated in Oaxaca. Carved radishes are displayed, buñuelos are served, ceramic plates are smashed in the streets.
Dec. 25 + Christmas
Navidad
During the week before Christmas are candlelight processions, parties, and piñatas filled with candy and toys. This is a major holiday period and vacations are often taken at this time.
+ National Holiday

| Top of page | Main index | What's new |
The Pacific Coast of Mexico www.tomzap.com Tom Penick:  tom@tomzap.com