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Almost every day of the year, a fiesta, or festival, takes place somewhere in Mexico. Most Mexicans are Roman Catholics, and many holidays are connected with their religion.
But a growing number of people embrace other Christian denominations, though Catholic traditions remain important. Every village and town has a yearly fiesta honoring its local patron saint. Other holidays mark events in Mexico’s struggle for independence.
▲ September 16 is Mexican Independence Day. On this date, Father Hidalgo started the rebellion against Spanish rule. After he rang the church bells to gather the townspeople, Hidalgo gave a speech that ended with a famous call to revolution known as the Cry of Dolores.
No one knows exactly what Father Hidalgo said, but on the eve of every Independence Day, at 11 p.m., Mexico’s president gives a speech from the National Palace in Mexico City. He repeats these words: Viva Mexico, Viva la independencia (“Long live Mexico, long live independence”). He then rings the same bell that Hidalgo rang. A huge crowd echoes the words. Throughout Mexico, town mayors do the same. Like people in the U.S. on the Fourth of July, Mexicans light fireworks – red, white, and green, the colors of the Mexican flag. ▶
▲ In earlier times, many Catholics fasted during Lent, the 40 days before Easter. Today, before Lent starts, some Mexicans, particularly in the state of Veracruz, celebrate with a festival called Carnival. They dress up and hold parades with fireworks and colorful floats. Children have mock battles with flowers or empty eggshells.
▲ Although it may seem like a sad or spooky day, the Day of the Dead is a fun time like Halloween. Children and adults wear masks or dress up as ghosts, skeletons, or witches. People buy toy skeletons or sugar skull candies. In some places in Mexico, kids even participate in Halloween, a blend of old traditions and new influences.
The Day of the Dead occurs around All Saints Day, on November 1 and 2. On those days, some Mexicans honor relatives who have died by visiting their graves. Families clean the tombstones. They put fresh flowers on them. They place some of the dead person’s favorite foods near the grave or on altars at home. This custom dates to ancient Indian beliefs that on this day the spirits of the dead come back to the world. Families light sweet-smelling candles and burn incense to lead the spirits back. Some people stay all night, having picnics and talking about their loved ones. ▶
▲ On December 12, thousands gather in Mexico City for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Some walk a long way to visit the church dedicated to her. They pray for help with illnesses and family problems, or give thanks for prayers that have been answered.
▲ At Christmas time, Mexicans wish each other Feliz Navidad, Spanish for “Merry Christmas.” Mexican children get presents on January 6, which is traditionally the day that the three wise men brought gifts for Jesus. The night before, children put their shoes outside the door. Next to the shoes, they place a bowl of water for the wise men’s camels. When they wake up the next morning, the water is gone – and their shoes are full of presents!
