Mexico Holidays - 1997

New Year's Day is the first day of the year. On the modern Gregorian calendar, it is celebrated on January 1.It is a national holiday. Banks, government offices and some stores are closed. This is usually a quiet day, as folks recuperate from the partying of the previous night. Archaeological sites, museums and other tourist attractions are open.There are numerous New Year traditions followed during the festive time. Most Mexicans have a late night dinner along with their families on New Year's Eve. People attend parties later on at squares, homes, and on the streets. Most major cities, towns and villages in Mexico host New Year parties and celebrations.One tradition is to eat twelve grapes at midnight on 31st December. While eating, people make a wish for the coming New Year.

Día de la Constitución, or Mexican Constitution Day.Traditionally Mexico celebrated the anniversary of its constitution on February 5th every year, however current Mexican labor law, effective 2006, now establishes that the Mexican Constitution be honored as an official holiday on the first Monday of February, regardless of the actual date. It is one of Mexico’s Fiestas Patrias or Patriotic Holidays.This day usually celebrated with the festivals and street celebrations.

March 21st is a National Holiday in Mexico to commemorate the birthday of Benito Juárez, who occupy the Presidency of the Republic on several occasions during the turbulent second half of the 19th century. He was born in the small village of San Pablo Guelatao, Oaxaca on March 21, 1806.This holiday was originally celebrated every year on the same date (March 21), but the federal labor law was modified in 2005 so the holiday is always celebrated on a Monday.

1st May in Mexico celebrated as International Labor Day.In Mexico it is a day of rest for the workers as well as protest and rallies. Many government offices, banks, stores and offices will be closed May 1st (Primero de Mayo) in all of Mexico.There are several labor unions that unite together to protest specifically on this day to get better health benefits, better treatment, etc.

Day celebration takes place in Mexico City's Zocalo, which is decorated from the beginning of September with red, white and green lights and Mexican flags. On the 15th, at 11 pm the President of the Republic goes out onto the central balcony of the National Palace (Palacio Nacional), rings the bell (the same bell Hidalgo rang in 1810, brought to Mexico City in 1886) and cries to the people gathered in the square below, who enthusiastically respond "¡Viva!".The celebrations continue on the 16th with civic ceremonies and parades - the largest taking place in Mexico City, but perhaps the most touching festivities are those in small communities in which school children of all ages participate.

Mexicans remember and celebrate the Revolution of 1910 to 1920 every year on the 20th of November. This day is referred to as the Día de la Revolución, or commonly as el veinte de noviembre.The day is marked with parades and civic ceremonies throughout the country. There is a large parade in Mexico City's Zocalo, as well as speeches and official ceremonies. In cities and towns throughout Mexico schoolchildren dressed as revolutionaries participate in local parades.

The main Christmas celebration in Mexico is called las posadas, which refers to processions reenacting Joseph and Mary's search for a place to stay in Bethlehem. The processions begin nine days before Christmas because the original journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem took nine days.At midnight the birth of Christ is announced with fireworks, ringing bells and blowing whistles.Mexicans attend a midnight mass service which is called la Misa Del Gallo or "the rooster's mass," and at the mass they sing lullabies to Jesus.