Día de la Constitución (February 5th) - Mexican Constitution Day celebrates the ratification of the Constitution of 1917, adopted after the Mexican Revolution on February 5th 1917. Constitution Day is marked by large parades across Mexico, often featuring marching bands and colorful costumes.
Día de la Bandera (February 24th) - For Mexicans, their flag is an important symbol of who they are, they celebrate their national heritage and the meaning of the red, white, and green' bandera' every year. The celebration marks the victory of Mexicans in the War of Independence against the Spanish. On February 24, 1821, Vicente Guerrero and Agustin de Iturbide signed the Iguala Plan that essentially ended the Mexican War of Independence. A struggle that lasted 11 years.
Día de la Expropiación Petrolera (March 18th) - Some Mexicans in the oil and gas industry celebrate Oil Expropriation Day with events to honor the national ownership of oil resources. Mexican president Lázaro Cárdenas nationalized all oil reserves, facilities and oil companies on March 18, 1938.
Benito Juárez's Birthday Memorial (March 21st) - A holiday celebrating Mexico’s former president who served five presidential terms between 1858 and 1872. He was also Mexico’s first indigenous president, and became a national hero.
Día del Trabajo (May 1st) - The first Labor Day parade was held in Mexico in 1913, but the holiday was first officially commemorated on May 1st 1923. As in other countries, there may be Labor Day parades, rallies or demonstrations to promote workers' rights on the streets of major cities.
Cinco de Mayo (May 5th) - Commemorates the anniversary of Mexico's victory over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla. On the morning of May 5, 1862, 6,000 French troops stormed the Mexican city of Heróica Puebla de Zaragoza to bring it under French rule. The Mexican soldiers were outnumbered, but they fiercely fought back. By early evening, the French had retreated.
El Grito de Dolores (September 15th) - The Grito de Dolores ("Cry of/from Dolores") was the battle cry of the Mexican War of Independence, uttered on September 16, 1810, by Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Roman Catholic priest from the small town of Dolores, near Guanajuato, Mexico. Every year, Mexico’s president rings the very bell that Father Hidalgo rang, always ending the presidential speech with the words, “¡Viva Mexico!” This is a great time to enjoy the festivities making every city come alive with parties, fireworks, street fairs and re-enactments.
Día de la Independencia (September 16th) - The day when Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo called for independence from Spain in the "Grito de Dolores" in 1810, was the start of the 11-year Mexican War of Independence that resulted in Mexico gaining freedom from Spain after being under colonial rule for over 300 years.
Día de las Brujas (October 31st) - Halloween is celebrated among Mexican children who wear costumes when they go trick-or-treating to people’s homes, asking for candy. overshadowed by the Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) celebrations on All Saints’ Day (Día de Todos los Santos) and All Soul’s Day/ Day of the Dead (Los Fieles Difuntos/Día de los Muertos).
Día de la Raza (October 12th) - Today, Columbus Day is celebrated as the Día de la Raza (“Race Day”) in recognition of the mixed indigenous and European heritage of Mexico—the mestizo character of its population—and because many Mexicans object to paying homage to the controversial explorer and conqueror Christopher Columbus. Columbus Day is viewed as a celebration of Hispanic heritage for Mexicans who celebrate it. However, it has also been a day chosen for protests, rallies and street marches in past years, as it serves as a reminder of conflicts that arose later between Spanish conquerors and indigenous peoples.
Dia de la Revolucion (November 20th) - The anniversary of the call to arms of the 1910–1917 Revolution by Francisco I. Madero to unseat the dictator Porfirio Díaz, who had remained in power for more than three decades.
