Mexico: Every Day is a Fiesta

Almost every day is a holiday somewhere in Mexico. Mexicans love to have parties and will have a celebration for any reason (and sometimes for no reason at all). As Mexico is a Catholic nation, many of the holidays revolve around the church. In addition, there are many national and secular holidays that call for parties.

Some writers have said that the Mexican calendar is full of festivals so that people can escape the problems of everyday life. Some have said that many of the holidays are holdovers from pre-Hispanic times and represent seasonal rituals. Whatever their origin, fiestas are the spice of Mexican life.

Each town honors its patron saint on a particular day with a fiesta. Each church is dedicated to a particular saint who is honored with a parade and fiesta on a day that signifies an event in the saint's life. In addition, there are a number of religious holidays - Holy Week, Christmas, Feast of Epiphany and the Festival of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the patron saint of Mexico.

Required Celebrations

In addition, a number of national and secular holidays occur that require celebrations. Some honor a particular person - Benito Juárez, Miguel Hidalgo, Ignacio Allende. Some celebrate events in Mexico's history - Constitution Day, Flag Day, Cinco de Mayo, and Independence Day. Many are specific to a certain town - Alarcon Days in Taxco to honor native playwright Juan Ruiz de Alarcon, San Miguel Day to honor the founding of San Miguel de Allende, and the International Cervantino Festival in Guanajuato.

Fiestas, regardless if they are religious or secular, always include food. Tamales, enchiladas, tacos, and fruit drinks are usually served no matter the occasion. Some holidays, though, have special foods that are only served for that holiday - Three Kings bread for Epiphany, Pan de Muertos for the Day of the Dead, Gorditas de la Virgen for the Festival of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Chile en Nogada for Independence Day.

Fireworks