2nd February

Día de la Candelaria (Candlemass) - Traditionally, Candlemass is a torchlight processional dedicated to the Virgin Mary. This stems from earlier customs of purification and fertility and in Mexico it is also linked to the Aztec New Year. Those who received a muñeca on Los Reyes Magos must hold a party on this day and provide their guests with atole and tamales. It is said that this tradition comes from the times when priests were attempting to convert the population, and needed some form of incentive to make the indigenous Mexicans attend their celebrations. Providing food and drink was one way of increasing the turnout!

5th February

Día de la Constitución (Constitution Day) - This day commemorates the signing of Mexico's third constitution on the 5th of February 1917. It continues to be the basis of the Mexican legal system to this day.

24th February

Día de la Bandera (Flag Day) - On this day in 1821, the Iguala Plan was signed, and Mexico officially became an independent country, thus ending the war of independence.

21st March

Día de Benito Juárez (Benito Juárez Day) - This day marks the birthday of Benito Juárez García, Mexico's most important leader. A Zapotec born in the state of Oaxaca in 1806, he overcame prejudice and other obstacles to become President in 1857. Once in power, he instituted long-overdue anti-church reforms which sparked off the Reform Wars.

1st May

Primero de Mayo (Labour Day) - Labour Day is the international socialist remembrance of the first of May massacre of Chicago workers in 1886 who were striking for an 8-hour day.

5th May

Cinco de Mayo (The Battle of Puebla) - The invading French army was defeated in the state of Puebla on the 5th of May, 1862. Although the victory was short-lived, this victory has come to symbolise the eventual withdrawal of foreign interests from Mexico. This day is therefore a national holiday with special significance in Puebla.

10th May

Día de la Madre (Mother's Day) - Although this day is celebrated in many other countries on the second Sunday in May, this day is fixed in the Mexican calendar. If it happens to fall on a weekday, people work a half-day and celebrate the rest of the day with their mothers.

1st September

Informe Presidencial (Presidential Address to the Nation) - The president of Mexico gives a state-of-the-nation speech to the legislature.

16th September

Día de la Independencia (Independence Day) - The celebrations actually begin the night before, to commemorate Hidalgo's grito (cry) of "Mexicanos, ¡Viva México!" which he gave from the steps of his parish church at 11 o'clock on the night of September 15th. To this day, Mexicans gather in town squares across the country to hear their leaders give the grito at 11 p.m. and later celebrate the occasion with fireworks and parties. For this reason, the next day is a national holiday!

12th October

Día de la Raza (Columbus Day) - Columbus, or Cristóbal Colón, first set eyes on American soil on this day in 1492, thus exposing the Americas to their fate of exploration, conversion and exploitation. Whereas this day is known as Columbus Day in other places, it is known as "The Day of the Race" in Mexico and is an opportunity to celebrate the mix of native and Spanish blood inherent in its history. The term La Raza was coined by the philosopher Antonio Caso in 1918 and the day was renamed Día de la Raza ten years later.

1st-2nd November

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) - The days of the dead are a combination of pre-Columbian traditions for deceased warriors and the Catholic celebration of All Saint's Day. The most obvious part of the celebration is the ofrenda, which is an altar to the deceased containing flowers, pan de muerto and pictures of those deceased. The people remembered in this way can be members of the family, friends or famous people. Far from being morbid occasions, the Days of the Dead are an occasion to celebrate death and to make fun of the idea of life being a permanent condition.

20th November

Día de la Revolución (Revolution Day) - Francisco I. Madero called for an uprising against Porfirio Diaz's regime on this day in 1910, thus marking the beginning of the Mexican revolution.

12th December

Día de La Virgen de Guadalupe (Virgin of Guadalupe's Day) - This day marks the appearance of the Virgin of Guadalupe, Mexico's first indigenous saint. The story goes that one day in December of 1531, a christianised indígena named Juan Diego saw an image of the Virgin on top of a hill in what is now Mexico City. She instructed him to tell the Bishop to build a church on top of the hill. The bishop promptly ignored Juan Diego's story, but on December 12th, the Virgin reappeared to Juan Diego. This time, she told him to collect roses from the top of the hill. When he returned to the bishop with his cape filled with roses, both were astonished, because as Juan Diego emptied his cape, an image of the Virgin was left behind. The cape still hangs in the Basilica of the Virgin of Guadalupe, built near the spot where the miracles occurred, and on the anniversary of the second miracle, pilgrims converge on the area in a mass celebration.

16th-24th December

Posada (shelter) - The posada is a nine day celebration which commemorates Joseph and Mary's journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Parties are held at which the guests ask for shelter and are eventually admitted. As well as the usual party beverages, ponche is usually provided. Guests also try to break a moving piñata.

24th December

Navidad (Christmas) - This time of year is full of celebrations from the posada to Los Reyes Magos, but the most important part of Navidad happens on La Noche Buena (24th December). It's a time for people to get together and exchange presents. At midnight there's a big meal, which is when the celebrations really begin. The whole period is colourful and decorative, with decorations from Christmas trees to nacimientos.

28th December

Día de los Inocentes (Innocents' Day) - This day commemorates the child massacre perpetrated by King Herod on learning of the birth of Jesus. These deaths of innocents are nowadays represented by people playing tricks on their friends, family and colleagues as on April Fool's Day. The tricksters reveal themselves to their victims with the words "inocente palomita que te dejaste engañar", which mean "innocent little dove, that you let yourself be fooled".