Mexican Holidays: Cinco De Mayo, Day Of The Dead, Our Lady Of Guadalupe, Fiestas And Traditions

Mexico is a country with rich and proud traditions, and many people like to coordinate their trips with Mexican holidays to take part in the especially vibrant fiestas. It's important to remember that different Mexican holidays have different meanings. The celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe, for instance, will inspire fiestas completely different from those on Cinco De Mayo.

Still, the country always comes alive during Mexican holidays, and many find the vibrancy intoxicating.

Cinco De Mayo is often confused with Mexican Independence Day, which are actually two separate Mexican holidays. Cinco De Mayo celebrates the 1862 Battle of Puebla, in which Mexican militias were victorious over the French army. Forty-one years after independence, Mexico repelled French plans to expand its empire into Mexico. Unlike some other Mexican holidays, Cinco De Mayo is really more of a regional celebration. The state of Puebla is where the biggest celebrations occur, though smaller ones take place around the country. Ironically, Cinco De Mayo is a bigger holiday outside of Mexico, with a number of American cities turning it into a weeklong festival. Today, Cinco De Mayo is more a celebration of Mexican traditions, especially the food and beverages.

Celebration of Our Lady of Guadalupe, on the other hand, has lost none of its historical connection. One of the more deeply religious Mexican holidays, December 12 commemorates when the Virgin Mary first appeared to the Mexican people. While Spain had been trying to convert the country since their arrival, Catholicism did not take root among the Mexican population until the Virgin Mary appeared to a young man named Juan Diego in 1531. He was told to collect flowers from the top of a rocky hill, and despite the winter weather, he found a garden waiting for him. He collected them in his coat and brought them to the bishop, where both of them found that the image of the Virgin Mary was now traced into the coat. Every year, thousands of people make pilgrimages to Mexico City for the event, which culminates in one of the largest fiestas in the country.

By far, one of the oldest Mexican holidays is the Day of the Dead, a celebration over 3,000 years old. The Day of the Dead is so deeply ingrained in Mexican traditions that it survived Spanish attempts to eradicate it. The Spaniards moved the two-day Mexican holiday to coincide with All Souls Day and All Saints Day. While Catholic theology was eventually integrated into the celebration, the ancient Aztec traditions still survive. Chief among these traditions is the use of skulls. Skull masks made of wood are worn, and sugar skulls with the name of a deceased friend or relative on the forehead are eaten. People decorate the graves of their loved ones, as well as making altars in their houses. Day of the Dead is a celebration of death as the continuation of life, and destinations like Oaxaca are renowned for their Day of the Dead festivities. Fiestas will differ greatly from area to area, though. Some can be very solemn, while others can be quite lively.

Celebrations of all these Mexican holidays take place north of the border, as well, though the best are in their native country, of course. Mexican holidays display the uniqueness of the country and the people, and such times are often the best times to visit.


Sources:
Barbezat, Suzanne. "Mexico's Day of the Dead Celebrations." About.com. 2007. New York Times Company. 16 Nov. 2007. http://gomexico.about.com/od/festivalsholidays/p/d ay_of_the_dead.htm.

"Cultural History: The Virgin of Guadalupe." MEXonline.com. 2007. 16 Nov. 2007. http://www.mexonline.com/virginofguadalupe.htm.

"December 12 - Our Lady of Guadalupe." Inside Mexico. 2007. 16 Nov. 2007. http://www.inside-mexico.com/guadalupe.htm.

Miller, Carlos. "Indigenous People Wouldn't Let 'Day of the Dead' Die." Arizona Republic. 2005. John Zidich. 16 Nov. 2007. http://www.azcentral.com/ent/dead/history/.

"The History of Cinco De Mayo." MEXonline.com. 25 April 2007. 16 Nov. 2007. http://www.mexonline.com/cinco-de-mayo.htm.