Holidays in Mexico

  I forgot to write about September 16th, one of the biggest national holidays in Mexico, so I`ll try to fill in the gap now.
Unfortunately, I can`t share my experiences about this holiday, because at that time I was back in Japan. So, I`ll just write down what I have heard about it.

  But first things first, let`s see what are the national holidays in Mexico.

1)  Jan. 1st:   Ano Nuevo (New Year)

2)  Feb. 5th:   Día de la Constitución (Day of the Constitution)

3)  Mar. 21st: Natalicio de Benito Juárez (Birth of Benito Juárez)
   Benito Juárez (18O6-1872) was president in Mexico from 1858 and he`s considered to be a national hero because of the victory over the French invaders in 1867.

4)  Jueves Santo (Ascension Day)

5)  Viernes Santo (Good Friday)

6)  May 1st:   Día del Trabajo (Labor Day)
 
7)  May 5th:   Cinco de Mayo (5th of May)
   Remembering of the battle of Puebla (1862). The Mexican troops gained victory in Puebla over the French on this day.

8)  Sep. 16th: Día de la Independencia (Day of Independency)
   The battle for independency broke out on this day. Father Miguel Hidalgo lead the Mexicans to break free from the Spanish colonizers. 


9)  Oct. 12th: Descubrimiento de América (Discovery of America)
   Originally it was the celebration of the discovery of the American continent. However, nowadays this day is rather for the celebration of the Mexican tribes before Columbus.

1O)Nov. 2Oth:Día de la Revolución (Day of the Revolution)
   
11)Dec. 12th: Día de la Virgen de Guadalupe (Day of the Guadalupean Virgin)
   The biggest Christian celebration in Mexico. It celebrates the day when the Virgin (the patron saint of Mexico) has appeared on the hills of Cerro del Tepeyac in 1531. Thousands of pilgrims are going to Guadalupe on this day.

12)Dec. 24th: Noche Buena (Christmas Eve)

13)Dec. 25th: Navidad (Christmas)

  So, September 16th is one of the biggest national holiday here. Even weeks before the festival small souvenirs with the Mexican tricolor are sold everywhere and party sets are sold in the supermarkets. The Mexicans are told to have big "fiestas" during the day and in the night everybody goes to the streets and continue the party there. The day finishes with a spectacular fireworks on Zocalo - the main square of Mexico City.