Mexicans take holidays—of their country, their saints, and their families—seriously. You’ll be hard-pressed to find a two-week period when something or someone isn’t being celebrated. On major holidays—Christmas, New Year’s Day, and Easter—be prepared for crowds on the beaches, at the waterfalls and lakes, and at archaeological sites. Be sure to book your hotel and buy your bus tickets well in advance; during holidays, the travel industry is saturated with Mexican travelers.

In addition to officially recognized holidays, villages and cities hold numerous festivals and celebrations: for patron saints, birthdays of officials, a good crop, a birth of a child. You name it, it’s probably been celebrated. Festivals typically take place in and around the central plaza of a town with dancing, live music, colorful decorations, and fireworks. Temporary food booths are set up around the plaza and typically sell tacos, churros (fried dough dusted with sugar), tamales (both sweet and meat), and plenty of drinks.

Regional Holidays and Celebrations

Winter

• Dec. 12: Virgen de Guadalupe (religious celebration in honor of Mexico’s patron saint)
• Dec. 25: Christmas (celebrated on the night of the 24th)
• Jan. 1: New Year’s Day and anniversary of Zapatista uprising
• Jan. 6: Día de los Reyes Magos (Three Kings Day — gifts exchanged)
• Jan. 8–22: Festival de San Sebastián (Festival in Chiapa de Corzo, featuring costumed parachicos)
• February: Fiesta de San Caralampio (month-long celebration, especially in Comitán)
• Feb. 2: Virgen de la Candelaria (religious candlelight processions light up several towns)
• Feb. 5: Flag Day
• Late Feb.: Carnaval (seven-day celebration before Ash Wednesday; celebrated especially vigorously in San Juan Chamula)

Spring

• Mar. 21: Birthday of Benito Juárez (president of Mexico for five terms; born in 1806)
• Late March/early April: Semana Santa (holy week, with various religious celebrations and reenactments culminating in Easter; also a major travel period for Mexicans)
• May 1: Labor Day
• May 3: Day of the Holy Cross (celebrated widely, notably in Zinacantán and Tenam Puente Archaeological Zone)
• May 5: Battle of Puebla (aka Cinco de Mayo; celebration of the 1862 defeat of the French)

Summer and Fall

• June: Corpus Christi (unique celebrations in Chiapa de Corzo and Suchiapa, outside Tuxtla)
• Sept. 16: Independence Day (celebrated on the night of the 15th)
• Sept. 24–Oct. 8: Fiesta de San Francisco de Asís (patron saint of Tonalá and Amatenango, which host large celebrations)
• Oct. 12: Día de la Raza (Day of the Race; celebrated in lieu of Columbus Day and observed on the same date)
• Nov. 1–2: All Saints Day and Day of the Dead (church ceremonies and graveside parties in honor of the deceased; some indigenous communities celebrate only on the 1st or 2nd)
• Nov. 20: Día de la Revolución (celebration of the beginning of the Mexican Revolution in 1910)