Mexican Holidays and Festivals: The Expat's Complete Annual Calendar

May 20

5 min read

Updated: Sep 20

Mexico's festival calendar is one of the most compelling things about living here. These are not tourist shows, they're living traditions embedded in daily life. Knowing when they happen, what they mean, and what to expect as a resident (and not just a visitor) transforms how you experience the country. This is the complete annual guide.

January

Ano Nuevo (January 1): National Holiday

New Year in Mexico is family-centered. The 'noche vieja' (December 31) celebration runs all night with family dinners, fireworks, and the tradition of eating 12 grapes at midnight for luck. January 1 is quiet, everything is closed, people are recovering, and cities are peaceful.

Dia de Reyes (January 6): Three Kings Day

Epiphany is arguably more important than Christmas for Mexican children, this is when presents are traditionally given (though Christmas gifting has grown with commercial influence). The rosca de reyes, a ring-shaped sweet bread with plastic baby figures hidden inside, is shared with family and friends. Whoever finds the baby in their slice hosts a tamale party on February 2 (Dia de la Candelaria). As a resident, you will be offered rosca de reyes everywhere, at work, by neighbors, at the bakery. Accept it.

February

Dia de la Candelaria (February 2)

The follow-up to Dia de Reyes: whoever found the baby in the rosca on January 6 is obligated to buy tamales for the group. This cascading holiday obligation is both charming and delicious.

Carnaval (Variable: February or March)

Mexico's most famous Carnaval is in Mazatlan (one of the biggest in Latin America), but Veracruz has an equally historic celebration. CDMX and most interior cities have smaller events. Carnaval happens 5 days before Ash Wednesday, check the year's calendar for exact dates.

March to April

Semana Santa (Holy Week: Variable)

The most important week in the Mexican calendar after Christmas. The week before Easter (Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday) is when Mexico collectively goes on vacation. Roads are packed, beach towns are overwhelmed, hotels are full months in advance. As a resident: stock up on groceries before Semana Santa, plan around the travel surges, and if you're in a colonial city, the processions are worth witnessing. Guanajuato, Taxco, and San Cristobal de las Casas have extraordinary Semana Santa processions.

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If you plan to be in a busy town for Holy Week or Carnaval, reserve your room early because popular places fill quickly. You can compare stays near the center on Booking.com and look for free cancellation options.

Dia de la Constitucion (February 5) and Natalicio de Benito Juarez (March 21): Federal Holidays

Both are federal holidays with Monday observance. Government offices close. Banks close. Markets and restaurants typically remain open.

May

Dia del Trabajo (May 1): Labor Day

A federal holiday. Most businesses closed. Marches and labor union events in major cities, particularly CDMX.

Cinco de Mayo (May 5)

Primarily a regional holiday in Puebla (commemorating the 1862 Battle of Puebla). It is NOT Mexico's Independence Day (that's September 16), a common American misconception. In most of Mexico, May 5 is a minor observance; in Puebla it's a major civic celebration.

September

Dia de la Independencia (September 16): Mexico's Independence Day

The most important national holiday. September 15 at 11pm is the 'Grito de Independencia', the president re-enacts Miguel Hidalgo's call to revolution from the balcony of the National Palace in Mexico City. Every Mexican city and town simultaneously celebrates with a grito from the main plaza. The crowds, the music, the fireworks, and the collective energy of the grito is one of the most moving experiences in Mexico. Every resident should attend at least once.

October to November

Dia de Muertos (November 1 to 2): Day of the Dead

Day of the Dead is not Halloween and is not morbid. It is a profound and beautiful tradition of honoring and welcoming back the spirits of the dead. Families build ofrendas (altars) with marigolds (cempasuchil), photos of the deceased, their favorite foods and objects, and candles. Cemetery visits on the night of November 1 to 2, with candles, music, and food, are communal celebrations of memory. Oaxaca, Patzcuaro (Michoacan), and the towns of Mixquic and Xochimilco near CDMX have the most famous celebrations. As a resident, you will be invited to family ofrendas, accept with gratitude and respect.

A guided evening tour can help first timers understand what they are seeing at Día de Muertos and where to go respectfully. You can browse local tours on Viator for the city you plan to visit.

December

Las Posadas (December 12 to 24)

Nine nights of neighborhood processions re-enacting Mary and Joseph's search for shelter, ending with a party, breaking a pinata, and ponche (a warm fruit punch). These are hyperlocal, neighborhood-by-neighborhood events. Your neighbors will invite you. The piñata is mandatory. The ponche with canela (cinnamon) is exceptional.

Navidad (December 25) and Ano Nuevo (December 31)

Christmas in Mexico is family dinner on December 24 (Nochebuena), the 25th is quieter. Nochebuena dinner typically includes bacalao (salt cod), romeritos, ponche, and buñuelos. As a resident, if you're invited to a Mexican family's Nochebuena, it is an honor, dress nicely, bring wine or a dessert, and plan to stay until midnight.

Federal Holidays: Complete List

January 1. Ano Nuevo
February 5. Dia de la Constitucion (observed Monday)
March 18. Natalicio de Benito Juarez (observed Monday near March 21)
May 1. Dia del Trabajo
September 16. Dia de la Independencia
November 2. Dia de Muertos (unofficial but widely observed)
November 20. Dia de la Revolucion (observed Monday)
December 25. Navidad

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Mexican holidays close banks and government offices?

Federal holidays such as January 1, May 1 and September 16 close government offices and banks, and the February and March holidays are observed on a Monday. Markets and restaurants usually stay open. Plan INM, SAT and bank errands around them.

When should I book travel and lodging for Semana Santa?

Early. Holy Week is when Mexico collectively goes on vacation, roads fill up and beach towns get crowded. Reserve weeks or months ahead if you can, and avoid scheduling government or bank errands that week.

Can foreigners take part in Día de Muertos and Las Posadas?

Yes, with some etiquette. Las Posadas are neighborhood events, so ask a neighbor before joining. Día de Muertos is a family tradition of honoring the dead, not a costume party, so treat ofrendas and cemeteries respectfully and ask before taking photos.

Which Mexican festivals are worth planning a scouting trip around?

Carnaval in Mazatlán, Guelaguetza in Oaxaca, the Cervantino in Guanajuato and the big Día de Muertos processions are among the largest. Book lodging and tickets well ahead, and remember a festival week will not show you everyday life.

Is Christmas Eve or Christmas Day the main celebration in Mexico?

Christmas Eve, Nochebuena, is the main family dinner on December 24, and December 25 is quieter. Día de Reyes on January 6 is when children traditionally get presents, so the holiday season stretches into early January.

Keep reading: Beyond Tacos: The Mexican Delicacies Most Expats Never Try.

Essential Resources

🎟️ Viator, city tours and orientation experiences: check available tours on Viator

🏨 Booking.com, scouting trip accommodation: search hotels on Booking.com

For the bigger festivals. Guelaguetza, Cervantino, major Día de los Muertos processions, book accommodations and any ticketed events well ahead; I use TripAdvisor to cross-check reviews and availability before committing to a specific date.

Next step: Planning a look-see trip before you commit? The Mexico scouting trip planner helps you build one.