Holidays In Mexico

Source: GR.Staff Thursday, December 30, 2010 13:51

Dias de Asueto (statutory holidays - bolded below) are the dates established under Federal Labor Laws when salaried workers, both public and private, are entitled to a day off with regular pay. Employees who work on those dates should be paid their normal daily wages plus double time for the hours worked.

The fixed Dias de Asueto are January 1 (New Year’s Day), the first Monday of February (Constitution Day Commemoration), the third Monday in March (Birth of Benito Juarez Commemoration), May 1 (Labor Day), September 16 (Independence Day), the third Monday in November (Mexican Revolution Commemoration) and December 25 (Christmas Day). Dates when elections are held or a new president is sworn into office also fall into this category.

Mexico and Guadalajara metro area holidays for 2011

Lake Chapala Region Fiestas & Special Events for 2011 

Banks, schools, government offices and some businesses close on these occasions. They may also shut down operations for major local festivities.

The remaining calendar listings indicate important civic commemorations, religious celebrations and special events that will be observed nationwide, the Guadalajara metro area and in the Lake Chapala area over the next 12 months. Those marked with an asterisk (*) are movable feasts that change dates from year to year.

January 1: Año Nuevo (New Year’s Day)
January 6: Dia de los Santos Reyes (Three Kings Day-Epiphany)
January 17: San Antonio Abad (St. Anthony Abbot, blessing of farm animals)
February 2: Dia de la Candelaria (Candlemas)
February 7: Conmemoracion del Aniversario de la Constitucion (Constitution Day)*
February 14: Dia del Amor y la Amistad (Valentine’s Day)
February 24: Dia de la Bandera (Flag Day)
March 8: Martes de Carnaval (Mardi Gras)*
March 9: Miercoles de Ceniza (Ash Wednesday)*
March 18: Expropriacion Petrolera (Nationalization of the petroleum industry, 1938)
March 21: Conmemoracion del Natalicio de Juarez (Birth of Benito Juarez)*
March 22: Dia Mundial del Agua (World Water Day)
April 15: Viernes de Dolores (Friday of Sorrows)*
April 17: Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday)*
April 3: Horario de Verano (Daylight Saving Time) begins*
April 21: Jueves Santo (Maundy Thursday)*
April 22: Viernes Santo (Good Friday)*
April 24: Pascua (Easter Sunday)*
April 30: Dia del Niño (Children’s Day)
May 1: Dia del Trabajo (Labor Day)
May 3: Dia de la Cruz (Day of the Holy Cross)
May 5: Batalla de Puebla (Battle of Puebla, 1862)
May 8: Natalicio de Hidalgo (Birth of Miguel Hiidalgo)
May 10: Dia de las Madres (Mother’s Day-Mexico)
May 15: Dia del Maestro (Teacher’s Day)
June 5: Dia Mundial del Medio Ambiente (World Environment Day)
June 7: Dia de la Libertad de Prensa (Free Press Day)
June 19: Dia del Padre (Father’s Day)*
July 15: Dia de la Secretaria (Secretary’s Day)
July 25: Danza de los Tastoanes, masked dances Tonala & Nextipac
August 22: Dia del Bombero (Firefighter’s Day)
August 27-September 4: Encuentro Internacional del Mariachi y Charerria (Mariachi and Charreria Festival)*
September 13: Dia de los Niños Heroes (Heroic Defense of Chapultepec, 1847)
September 14: Dia del Charro (Horseman’s Day)
September 15: Grito de Dolores (Cry of Independence, 1810)
September 16: Dia de la Independencia (Independence Day)
October, all month: Expo Ganadera (Livestock Fair)
October 8-November 6; Guadalajara’s Fiestas de Octubre (Oktoberfest county fair)
October 14-30: 16th Pan American Games, events in Guadalajara metro area, and other areas
October 12: Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day)
October 12: Romeria de la Virgen de Zapopan (Guadalajara to Zapopan pilgrimage)
October 30: Horario de Verano (Daylight Saving Time ends, move clocks back one hour)*
November 1: Dia de Todos Santos (All Saints’ Day)
November 2: Dia de los Muertos (All Souls’ Day)
November 12: Dia del Cartero (Mailman’s Day)
November 20: Aniversario de la Revolucion Mexicana (Revolution Day anniversary)
November 21: Conmemoracion de la Revolucion (Revolution commemoration)*
November 26-December 4: Guadalajara’s International Book Fair (FIL)*
December 12: Dia de la Virgen de Guadalupe (Patroness of Mexico)
December 16-24: Las Posadas (Christmas season festivities)
December 24: Noche Buena (Christmas Eve)
December 25: Navidad (Christmas Day)
December 28: Dia de los Santos Inocentes (Holy Innocents Day)
December 31: Año Viejo (New Year’s Eve)

Lake Chapala Region Fiestas & Special Events 2011

In addition to all national holidays in 2011, a plethora of traditional festivities and special events will alter the pace of day-to-day life in communities throughout the Lake Chapala region. Fiestas Patronales – the celebrations honoring the patron saint of an entire town or a particular neighborhood – commonly run for a nine-day period called the novenario, with religious processions, music and dancing, feasting, bull-riding contests and ear-splitting fireworks fueling a round-the-clock festive atmosphere. Dates to consider include:

December 31-January 8: Los Santos Reyes – fiestas patronales Cajititlan
January 1: Año Nuevo Desfile (light-hearted New Year’s parade)-westside Ajijic
January 6: Dia de Reyes Three Kings parade Ajijic & San Juan Cosala, followed by piñata party.
January 4-16: Señor del Monte – fiestas patronales Jocotepec*
January 20: San Sebastian – fiestas patronales upper Ajijic
February 2: Dia de la Candelaria (Candlemas Day), church blessings of infants, candles & seeds
February 9-11: Nuestra Señora de Lourdes – fiestas patronales west-end Chapala
February 18-20: Chili Cookoff Ajijic at Tobolandia*
February 19-March 1: Northern Lights Music Festival – Ajijic*
March 3-8: Carnaval (Mardi Gras) festivities – Chapala, Ajijic*
April 15: Virgen de Dolores altar displays – Chapala, San Antonio, Ajijic*
April 17: Palm Sunday Processions*
April 21-22: Pasion de Cristo – Ajijic Passion Play*
May 1: Señor del Guaje procession – Jocotepec*
May 3: Day of the Holy Cross, construction site parties, processions, altar displays
June 1: Dia de la Marina (Navy Day) commemoration
June 5-13: San Antonio de Padua – fiestas patronales San Antonio Tlayacapan
June 16-24: San Juan Bautista – fiestas patronales San Juan Cosala & San Juan Tecomatlan
July 8-16: Nuestra Señora del Carmen – fiestas patronales central Chapala
August 13-14: Feria del Membrillo (Quince Fair) – Atotoniquillo*
September 10: Regata de Globos paper balloon flying exhibition – Ajijic*
September 13: Niños Heroes (Boy Heroes) commemoration ceremonies
September 14: Dia del Charro (Charro Horseman’s Day), equestrian parades and rodeo events
September 15: Grito de Independencia celebrations
September 16: Independence Day parades
September 26-October 4: San Francisco de Asis –fiestas patronales Chapala
October 1-31: Virgen del Rosario festivities – Ajijic
October 20-23: Pan American Games water ski competition – Boca Laguna
November 1-2: Days of the Dead, altar displays and cultural events
November 20: Revolution Day parades
November 21-30: San Andres – fiestas patronales Ajijic
November 25: Heroic Defense of Mezcala Island commemoration – Mezcala
December 4-12: Virgen de Guadalupe – fiestas patronales west end Ajijic
December 12: Virgen de Guadalupe processions and altar displays
December 16-24: Las Posadas Christmas season processions
December 17-18: Pelicano Borregon (white pelican) Cultural Festival – Cojumatlan de Regules

The most celebrated holidays are:

Independence day: It begins the night before, September 15th, with the Cry from Dolores remembrance in every city and town in Mexico and some in the US. Next day, 16th, there's a big parade.

Day of Virgin Guadalupe: Every city or town in Mexico has a special temple or place devoted to Virgin Guadalupe, and it's impressive to see how many devoted Mexicans go there (specially in Mexico City's Basilica) walking long distances, kneeled or carrying heavy weights or flagelating themselves to pay for a special grace or miracle received. It's also usual to join at home with your family to pray.

Christmas: To be with your family this day is a must. It begins the night before, December 24th.