Bruce Bretzlaff – Edmonton, Alberta – Canada

JANUARY

• January 1…. Año Nuevo (New Year’s Day), is an official Mexican holiday.
• January 6 …. Día de los Santos Reyes is the day when Mexicans exchange Christmas presents in accordance with the arrival of the three gift-bearing wisemen to Jesus Christ. This day culminates the Christmastime festivities.
• January 17 …. Feast Day of de San Antonio de Abad is a religious holiday during which the Catholic Church allows animals to enter the church for blessing.

FEBUARY

• February 5 …. Día de la Constitución an official holiday that commemorates Mexico’s Constitution.
• February 24 …. Flag Day, This Mexican national holiday honors the Mexican flag.

MARCH

• March 5 …. Carnaval is an official Mexican holiday that kicks off a five-day celebration of the libido before the Catholic lent. Beginning the weekend before Lent, Carnaval is celebrated exhubrantly with parades, floats and dancing in the streets. Port towns such as Ensenada, La Paz, Mazatlán and Veracruz are excellent places to watch Carnaval festivities.
• March 21 ….. The Birthday of Benito Juárez, a famous Mexican president and national hero, is an official Mexican holiday.

APRIL

• Semana Santa …. Semana Santa is the holy week that ends the 40-day Lent period. This week includes Good Friday and Easter Sunday. It is Mexican custom to break confetti-filled eggs over the heads of friends and family.

MAY

• May 1 …. Primero de Mayo is the Mexican national holiday that is equivalent to the U.S. Labor Day.
• May 5 …. Cinco de Mayo is the Mexican national holiday that honors the Mexican defeat of the French army at Puebla de los Angeles in 1862.
• May 10 …. Mother’s Day, Due to the importance of the mother in Mexican culture, Mother’s Day is an especially significant holiday.

JUNE

• June 1 …. Navy Day is an official Mexican holiday.

SEPTEMBER

• September 1 …. Annual State of the Union, Though this date is an approximation, the President delivers the address in the autumn.
• September 8 …. Día de Nuestra Señora is a local Baja holiday that celebratates Baja’s first mission.
• September 16 …. Mexican Independence Day celebrates the day that Miguel Hidalgo delivered El Grito de Dolores, and announced the Mexican revolt against Spanish rule.

OCTOBER

• October 12 …. Día de la Raza, This day celebrates Columbus’ arrival to the Americas, and the historical origins of the Mexican race.

NOVEMBER

• November 1&2 …. Día de los Muertos is an important Mexican holiday that merges Pre-Columbian beliefs and modern Catholocism. Europe’s All Saints’ Day and the Aztec worship of the dead contribute to these two days that honor Mexico’s dead.
• November 20 …. Mexican Revolution Day,This official Mexican holiday celebrates the Mexican Revolution of 1910.

DECEMBER

• December 12 …. Día de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, or the day of the Virgin of Guadalupe is celebrated with a feast honoring Mexico’s patron saint.
• December 16 …. Las Posadas celebrates Joseph and Mary’s search for shelter in Bethlehem with candlelight processions that end at various nativity scenes. Las Posadas continues through January 6.
• December 25….Navidad, With the rest of the Christian world, Mexico celebrates Christmas day.