holidays

With any country, holidays play an important part in shaping who the society is.

In America, we have the traditional, national holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, and Fourth of July) which equal a day off work and school for some and then we have those holidays that do not grant a day off of work or school but we celebrate those holidays just for fun (Mardi Gras, St. Patrick’s Day, Valentine’s Day and April Fools Day).

In Mexico, holidays are broken up into three different categories: Statutory, Civic and Festivities.

Statutory holidays – are approved federal holidays from the government and the employees are entitled to a day off of work.

• January 1st – celebration of the New Year
  
• February 5th - Constitucion Day - On February 5th, 1917, the Mexican Constitution was approved.
• March 21st – celebrates the birth of former Mexican president Benito Juarez

Civic holidays – are used to celebrate an important dates in Mexican history. An employee is guaranteed a day off from work.

• February 24 – celebrates the creation of the Mexican flag
  
• May 8 - celebrates the birth of Miguel Hildalgo y Costilla who was the founder of the Mexican war for independence
• June 1 - celebrates the history of the Mexican Navy
  

Festivities holidays – are used to celebrate important religious holidays:

• November 1 - All Souls Day - which celebrates the day of the dead
  
• December 12 - Day of Our Lady Guadalupe – Some believe that this is the holiest day in the Mexican culture

One really cool thing about Mexican holidays is they are always celebrated with fireworks!

Every year in Tucson, there is the annual All Souls Procession. Take a look at this clip on how the Mexican holiday has been brought to Tucson.