frommers.com
Religious and secular festivals are a part of life in Mexico. Every
town, city, and state holds its own festivals throughout the year
commemorating religious and historic figures. Indeed, in certain parts
of the country it sometimes feels like the festivities never die down.
For an exhaustive list of events beyond those listed here, see http://events.frommers.com, where you'll find a searchable, up-to-the-minute roster of what's happening in cities all over the world.
January
Año Nuevo (New Year's Day), nationwide. This national holiday
is perhaps the quietest day in Mexico. Most people stay home or attend
church. All businesses are closed. In traditional indigenous
communities, new tribal leaders are inaugurated with colorful ceremonies
rooted in the pre-Hispanic past. January 1.
Día de los Reyes (Three Kings' Day), nationwide. This day
commemorates the Three Kings' presenting gifts to the Christ Child.
Children receive presents, much like they do at Christmas in the United
States.
Friends and families gather to share the Rosca de Reyes, a
special cake. Inside the cake is a small doll representing the Christ
Child; whoever receives the doll must host a tamales-and-atole (a warm drink made of corn dough) party on February 2. January 6.
Feast of San Antonio Abad, Mexico City. This feast is
celebrated through the Blessing of the Animals at the Santiago
Tlatelolco Church on the Plaza of Three Cultures, at San Juan Bautista
Church in Coyoacán, and at the Church of San Fernando, 2 blocks north of
the Juárez-Reforma intersection. January 17.
Regional Fair, León, Guanajuato. One of Mexico's largest fairs
celebrates the founding of this shoemaking and leather-craft city. The
fair features parades, theater, craft exhibits, music, and dance. Month
of January.
February
Día de la Candelaria (Candlemas), nationwide. Music, dances,
processions, food, and other festivities lead up to a blessing of seed
and candles in a ceremony that mixes pre-Hispanic and European
traditions marking the end of winter. Those who attended the Three Kings
celebration reunite to share atole and tamales at a party hosted
by the recipient of the doll found in the Rosca. Celebrations are
especially festive in Tlacotalpan, Veracruz. February 2.
Día de la Constitución (Constitution Day), nationwide. This
national holiday is in honor of the current Mexican constitution, signed
in 1917 as a result of the revolutionary war of 1910. It's celebrated
through small parades. February 5.
Carnaval, nationwide. Carnaval takes place the 3 days
preceding Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. The cities of
Tepoztlán, Huejotzingo, Chamula, Veracruz, Cozumel, and Mazatlán
celebrate with special gusto. In some places, such as Veracruz,
Mazatlán, and Cozumel, the celebration resembles New Orleans's Mardi
Gras, with a festive atmosphere and parades. In Chamula, the event harks
back to pre-Hispanic times, with ritualistic running on flaming
branches. On Shrove Tuesday, in Tepoztlán and Huejotzingo, brilliantly
clad chinelos (masked dancers) fill the streets. Transportation
and hotels are packed, so it's best to make reservations 6 months in
advance and arrive a couple of days ahead of the beginning of
celebrations.
Ash Wednesday, nationwide. The start of Lent and time of
abstinence, this is a day of reverence nationwide; some towns honor it
with folk dancing and fairs.
March
Annual Witches Conference, Lake Catemaco, Veracruz. Shamans,
white witches, black witches, and practitioners of Caribbean, Afro, and
Antillean ritualistic practices gather on the shores of the lake. Taking
place the first Friday night of March every year, the annual gathering
is a spectacle of witches, healers, magicians, and wizards.
Benito Juárez's Birthday, nationwide. This national holiday
celebrating one of Mexico's most beloved leaders is observed through
small hometown celebrations, especially in Juárez's birthplace,
Guelatao, Oaxaca. March 21.
Spring Equinox, Chichén Itzá. On the first day of spring, the
Temple of Kukulkán -- Chichén Itzá's main pyramid -- aligns with the
sun, and the shadow of the plumed serpent moves slowly from the top of
the building down. When the shadow reaches the bottom, the body joins
the carved stone snake's head at the base of the pyramid. According to
ancient legend, at the moment that the serpent is whole, the earth is
fertilized. Visitors come from around the world to marvel at this sight,
so advance arrangements are advisable. Elsewhere, equinox festivals and
celebrations welcome spring, in the custom of the ancient Mexicans,
with dances and prayers to the elements and the four cardinal points.
It's customary to wear white with a red ribbon. March 21 (the shadow
appears Mar 19-23).
Festival de México en el Centro Histórico (Annual Mexico City Festival),
Mexico City. Regarded as one of Latin America's most vibrant
celebrations of art and culture, this 2-week festival features diverse
events including opera, concerts, theater, art exhibits, dance
productions, and gourmet fare. Proceeds go toward the rescue and
restoration of the art and architecture of Mexico City's historic
downtown area. For a detailed schedule and more information, visit
www.festival.org.mx. Mid- to late March, depending on Easter.
April
Semana Santa (Holy Week), nationwide. Mexico celebrates the
last week in the life of Christ, from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, with
somber religious processions, spoofing of Judas, and reenactments of
biblical events, plus food and craft fairs. Among the Tarahumara Indians
in the Copper Canyon, celebrations have pre-Hispanic overtones.
Pátzcuaro, Taxco, and Malinalco hold special celebrations. Businesses
close during this traditional week of Mexican national vacations.
If you plan to travel to or around Mexico during Holy Week, make your
reservations early. Flights into and out of the country will be full
months in advance. Buses to these towns and to almost anywhere else in
Mexico will be full, so try arriving on the Wednesday or Thursday before
Good Friday. Easter Sunday is quiet, and the week following is a
traditional vacation period. Early April.
San Marcos National Fair, Aguascalientes. Mexico's largest
fair, first held in 1604, lasts 22 days. About a million visitors come
for bullfights and rodeos, as well as ranchera music and mariachis. There are craft and industrial exhibits, markets, fireworks, and folk dancing. Mid-April.
May
Labor Day, nationwide. Workers' parades countrywide; everything closes. May 1.
Cinco de Mayo, Puebla and nationwide. This national holiday celebrates the defeat of the French at the Battle of Puebla. May 5.
Feast of San Isidro, nationwide. A blessing of seeds and work animals honors the patron saint of farmers. May 15.
Cancún Jazz Festival. Over Memorial Day weekend, the Parque de
las Palapas, as well as the area around the Convention Center, has live
performances from jazz musicians from around the world. For dates and
schedule information, check www.cancun.eventguide.com.
International Gay Festival. This weekend event in Cancún kicks
off with a welcome fiesta of food, drinks, and mariachi music.
Additional festivities include a tequila party, tour of Cancún, sunset
Caribbean cruise, bar and beach parties, and a final champagne
breakfast. For information, check www.cancun.eventguide.com.
June
Día de la Marina (Navy Day), various towns. All coastal towns celebrate the holiday, with naval parades and fireworks. June 1.
Corpus Christi, nationwide. This day, celebrated nationwide,
honors the Body of Christ (the Eucharist) with processions, Masses, and
food. Festivities include performances of voladores (flying pole
dancers) beside the church and at the ruins of El Tajín, Veracruz. In
Mexico City, children dressed as Indians and carrying decorated baskets
of fruit for the priest's blessing gather with their parents before the
National Cathedral. Mulitas (mules), handmade from dried
cornhusks and painted, are traditionally sold outside all churches on
that day to represent a prayer for fertility. Dates vary, but
celebrations take place on the Thursday following "Holy Trinity" Sunday.
National Ceramics Fair and Fiesta, Tlaquepaque, Jalisco. This
pottery center on the outskirts of Guadalajara offers craft
demonstrations and competitions, as well as mariachis, dancers, and
colorful parades. June 14 to July 14.
Día de San Pedro y San Pablo (St. Peter and St. Paul Day),
nationwide. This feast day is celebrated wherever St. Peter is the
patron saint; it also honors anyone named Pedro or Peter. It's
especially festive at San Pedro Tlaquepaque, near Guadalajara, with
mariachi bands, folk dancers, and parades with floats. June 29.
July
Guelaguetza Dance Festival, Oaxaca. This is one of Mexico's
most popular events. Villagers from the seven regions around Oaxaca
gather in the city's amphitheater. They dress in traditional costumes,
and many wear colorful "dancing" masks. The celebration dates from
pre-Hispanic times. Make advance reservations -- this festival attracts
visitors from around the world. Check out www.visitmexico.com for more
details. Late July.
August
International Chamber Music Festival, San Miguel de Allende.
Held since 1982 in this beautiful town, the festival features
international award-winning classical music ensembles. See
www.festivalsanmiguel.com for details. July 30 to August 15.
Fall of Tenochtitlán, Mexico City. The last battle of the
Spanish Conquest took place at Tlatelolco, ruins that are now part of
the Plaza of Three Cultures. Wreath-laying ceremonies there and at the
Cuauhtémoc monument on Reforma commemorate the surrender of Cuauhtémoc,
the last Aztec king, to Cortez, and the loss of thousands of lives.
August 13.
Assumption of the Virgin Mary, nationwide. This day is
celebrated throughout the country with special Masses and, in some
places, with processions. In Huamantla, flower petals and colored
sawdust carpet the streets. At midnight on August 15, a statue of the
Virgin is carried through the streets; on August 16 is the running of
the bulls. On August 15 in Santa Clara del Cobre, near Pátzcuaro, Our
Lady of Santa Clara de Asis and the Virgen de la Sagrado Patrona are
honored with a parade of floats, dancers on the main square, and an
exposition of regional crafts. Buses to Huamantla from Puebla and Mexico
City will be full, and there are few hotels in Huamantla. Plan to stay
in Puebla and commute to the festivities. August 15 to 17.
Fiestas de la Vendimia (Wine Harvest Festival), Ensenada, Baja
California. This food and wine festival celebrates the annual harvest,
with blessings, seminars, parties, and wine tastings. Check out
www.visitmexico.com for more details. Mid- to late August.
September
International Mariachi Festival, Guadalajara, Jalisco. These
public concerts of mariachi music include visiting mariachi groups from
around the world (even Japan!). Workshops and lectures focus on the
history, culture, and music of the mariachi in Mexico. Check
www.mariachi-jalisco.com.mx to confirm dates and the performance
schedule. August 30 to September 9.
Reto al Tepozteco (Tepozteco Challenge), Tepoztlán, Morelos.
This celebration of King Tepoztecatl's conversion to the Catholic
religion includes a performance depicting the event. A procession leads
toward the Tepozteco Pyramid, where people offer food and beverages.
This event includes hypnotic chinelo dances, fireworks, and a food festival. September 7 and 8.
Independence Day, nationwide. Celebrates Mexico's independence
from Spain with parades, picnics, and family reunions. At 11pm on
September 15, the president gives the famous independence grito (shout) from the National Palace in Mexico City. At least half a million people crowd into the zócalo
(main plaza), and the rest of the country watches on TV or participates
in local celebrations. Tall buildings downtown are draped in the
national colors (red, green, and white), and the zócalo is ablaze
with lights. Many people drive downtown at night to see the lights.
Querétaro and San Miguel de Allende, where Independence conspirators
lived and met, also celebrate elaborately; the schedule of events is
exactly the same in every village, town, and city across Mexico.
September 15 and 16.
Fall Equinox, Chichén Itzá. The same shadow play that occurs during the spring equinox is repeated. September 21 and 22.
October
Fiestas de Octubre (October Festivals), Guadalajara. This
"most Mexican of cities" celebrates for a month with its trademark
mariachi music. It's a bountiful display of popular culture and fine
arts, and a spectacular spread of traditional food, Mexican beer, and
wine. All month.
Festival Internacional Cervantino, Guanajuato. This festival
began in the 1970s as a cultural event, bringing performing artists from
all over the world to this picturesque village northeast of Mexico
City. Now the artists travel all over the republic after appearing in
Guanajuato. Check www.festivalcervantino.gob.mx for details. Mid- to
late October.
Día de la Raza ("Ethnicity Day," or Columbus Day), nationwide. This day commemorates the fusion of the Spanish and Mexican peoples. October 12.
Feria Nacional del Mole, Mexico City. Just south of Mexico City, thousands of varieties of mole
will be prepared for sampling and competition. This spicy sauce is a
Mexican staple, made of unsweetened chocolate, peppers, and spices,
often served with meat or poultry. Between October 1 and 15.
November
Day of the Dead, nationwide. This holiday (Nov 1) actually
lasts for 2 days: All Saints' Day, honoring saints and deceased
children, and All Souls' Day, honoring deceased adults. Relatives gather
at cemeteries countrywide, carrying candles and food, and often spend
the night beside graves of loved ones. Weeks before, bakers begin
producing bread in the shape of mummies or round loaves decorated with
bread "bones." Sugar skulls emblazoned with glittery names are sold
everywhere. Many days ahead, homes and churches erect altars laden with
bread, fruit, flowers, candles, favorite foods, and photographs of
saints and of the deceased. On both nights, costumed children walk
through the streets, often carrying mock coffins and pumpkin lanterns,
into which they expect money to be dropped.
The most famous celebration -- which has become almost too well known
-- is on Janitzio, an island on Lake Pátzcuaro, Michoacán, west of
Mexico City. Mixquic, a mountain village south of Mexico City, hosts an
elaborate street fair. At around 11pm on both nights, solemn processions
lead to the cemetery in the center of town. Cemeteries around Oaxaca
are well known for their solemn vigils, and some for their Carnaval-like
atmosphere. November 1 and 2.
Fiestas de Noviembre (November Festivals), Puerto Escondido,
Oaxaca. The month's events include the annual Pipeline of Mexico,
Zicatela Beach's International Surfing Tournament, the International
Sailfish Tournament, and the Coastal Dance Festival. Check local
calendars or www.visitmexico.com for details. All month.
Gourmet Festival, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco. In this culinary
capital of Mexico, chefs from around the world join with local
restaurateurs to create special menus and host wine and tequila
tastings, cooking classes, a gourmet food expo, and other special
events. For detailed information, see www.festivalgourmet.com. Dates
vary, but the festival generally runs November 12 to 22.
Revolution Day, nationwide. This holiday commemorates the
start of the Mexican Revolution in 1910 with parades, speeches, rodeos,
and patriotic events. November 20.
Annual Yucatán Bird Festival, Mérida, Yucatán. Bird-watching
sessions, workshops, and exhibits are the highlights of this festival
designed to illustrate the special role birds play in our environment
and in the Yucatán. Visit www.yucatanbirds.org.mx for details. Late
November to early December.
National Silver Fair, Taxco. This competition pits Mexico's
best silversmiths against some of the world's finest artisans. There are
exhibits, concerts, dances, and fireworks. Check local calendars or
www.visitmexico.com for details. Late November to early December.
Annual Hot Air Balloon Festival, León, Guanajuato. This is the
largest festival in Latin America, with more than 60 balloons and
pilots from all over the globe participating. Visit
www.festivaldelglobo.com.mx for details. Late November.
December
Feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe, nationwide. Religious
processions, street fairs, dancing, fireworks, and Masses honor the
patroness of Mexico. It is one of the country's most moving and
beautiful displays of traditional culture. The Virgin of Guadalupe
appeared to a young man, Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin, in December 1531 on
a hill near Mexico City. It's customary for children to dress up as
Juan Diego, wearing mustaches and red bandannas. One of the most famous
and elaborate celebrations takes place at the Basílica of Guadalupe,
north of Mexico City, where the Virgin appeared. But every village
celebrates this day, often with processions of children carrying
banners, and with charreadas (rodeos), bicycle races, dancing,
and fireworks. In Puerto Vallarta, the celebration begins on December 1
and extends through December 12, with traditional processions to the
church for a brief Mass and blessing. In the final days, the processions
and festivities take place around the clock. There's a major fireworks
exhibition on the feast day at 11pm. December 12.
Festival of San Cristóbal de las Casas, San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas. This 10-day festival in Chiapas includes a procession by the Tzotzil and Tzetzal Indians, marimba music, and a parade of horses. December 12 to 21.
Christmas Posadas, nationwide. On each of the 9 nights before
Christmas, it's customary to reenact the Holy Family's search for an
inn. Door-to-door candlelit processions pass through cities and villages
nationwide, especially Querétaro and Taxco. Hosted by churches,
businesses, and community organizations, these take the place of the
northern tradition of a Christmas party. December 15 to 24.
Fiesta de los Rábanos (Festival of the Radishes), Oaxaca.
Local artisans and sculptors set up stalls around the main square to
display their elaborate pieces of art -- made entirely from radishes!
The local crop is used for creating nativity scenes and famous Mexican
figures. Balloons and birds crafted from local flowers add even more
color. December 23.
Christmas, nationwide. Mexicans often extend this holiday and
take vacations for up to 2 weeks before Christmas, returning after New
Year's. Many businesses close, and resorts and hotels fill. Significant
celebrations take place on December 23 . Querétaro has a huge parade. On
the evening of December 24 in Oaxaca, processions culminate on the
central plaza. On the same night, Santiago Tuxtla in Veracruz celebrates
by dancing the huapango and with jarocho bands in the beautiful town square. December 24 and 25.
New Year's Eve, nationwide. Like the rest of the world, Mexico
celebrates New Year's Eve with parties, fireworks, and plenty of noise.
New Year's Eve in Mexico is typically spent with family. Special
festivities take place at Santa Clara del Cobre, near Pátzcuaro, with a
candlelit procession of Christ; and at Tlacolula, near Oaxaca, with
commemorative mock battles. December 31.
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