As you hang up the 2010 calendar and make note of the birthdays and other special occasions to be remembered, you may also want to mark dates for the commemoration of the Mexico’s national holidays and major traditional celebrations.
Public holidays observed nationwide are legislated at the federal level. Other festivities that may alter the everyday rhythm of life are linked to local customs.
Statutory holidays, called dias de asueto, are national holidays regulated under federal labor laws that entitle salaried workers, both public and private, to a day of rest with regular pay. Banks, schools, government offices and some businesses close on these occasions. Employees scheduled to work on those dates should be paid their normal daily salaries plus double time for the hours worked.
The dias de asueto are January 1 (New Year’s Day), the first Monday of February (Constitution Day), the third Monday in March (Birth of Benito Juarez), May 1 (Labor Day), September 16 (Independence Day), the third Monday in November (Revolution Day) and December 25 (Christmas Day). Dates when elections are held or a new president is sworn into office also fall into this category.
The remaining calendar listings indicate important civic commemorations, religious celebrations and special events that will be observed in the Guadalajara metro area or nationwide over the coming year. 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)
February 1: Conmemoracion del Aniversario de la Constitucion (Constitution Day)
February 2: Dia de la Candelaria (Candlemas)
February 14: Dia del Amor y la Amistad (Valentine’s Day)
February 16: Martes de Carnaval (Mardi Gras)
February 17: Miercoles de Ceniza (Ash Wednesday)
February 24: Dia de la Bandera (Flag Day)
March 15: Conmemoracion del Natalicio de Juarez (Birth of Benito Juarez)
March 18: Expropriacion Petrolera (Nationalization of the petroleum industry, 1938)
March 22: Dia Mundial del Agua (World Water Day)
March 26: Viernes de Dolores (Friday of Sorrows)
March 28: Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday)
April 1: Jueves Santo (Maundy Thursday)
April 2: Viernes Santo (Good Friday)
April 4: Domingo de Resurreccion (Easter Sunday)
April 4: Daylight Saving Time begins (move clocks forward 1 hour)
April 30: Dia del Niño (Children’s Day)
May 1: Dia del Trabajo (Labor Day)
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 20: Dia del Padre (Father’s Day)
July 15: Dia de la Secretaria (Secretary’s Day)
August 22: Dia del Bombero (Fireman’s Day)
August 27-September 6: Encuentro Internacional del Mariachi (Mariachi Fest)
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: Fiestas de Octubre (Oktoberfest) & Expo Ganadera (Livestock Fair)
October 12: Dia de la Raza (Columbus Day)
October 12: Romeria de la Virgen de Zapopan (Guadalajara-Zapopan Pilgrimage)
October 31: Daylight Saving Time ends (move clocks back 1 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 15: Conmemoracion del Dia de la Revolucion Mexicana (Revolution Day)*
November 20: Aniversario de la Revolucion Mexicana (traditional anniversary of the Mexican Revolution).
November 28-December 6: FIL-Guadalajara’s International Book Fair
December 12: 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)
*Date changes every year.
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