As you hang up your 2019 calendar, you may want to mark important Mexican civic holidays, traditional festivities and special events that will come up over the next 12 months.
Dates marked with an asterisk (*) change from one year to the next. National public holidays are highlighted in bold type. Under Federal labor laws, salaried workers are granted a day off with regular pay on all Dias de Asueto (statutory holidays). Employees who work on these dates are entitled to full daily wages plus double time for the hours worked. Government offices, schools, financial institutions and some businesses close operations on these occasions. Some may also shut down for major local celebrations.
January 1: Año Nuevo (New Year’s Day)
January 6: Día de los Santos Reyes (Three Kings Day-Epiphany) - Fiestas Patronales in Cajititlán run from December 30 through January 7
January 7-20*: Señor del Monte - Fiestas Patronales in Jocotepec
January 17: San Antonio Abad - blessing of farm animals
January 20: San Sebastián Mártir festivities in upper Ajijic
January 18-20*: Lip Sync show, Auditorio de la Ribera
January 25-27*: Festival Sangre Viva indigenous culture fair in Ajijic
February 2: Día de la Candelaria (Candlemas)
February 5: Conmemoración del Aniversario de la Constitución (Constitution Day)
February 8-24* Festival de Febrero Northern Lights Music Fest in Ajijic
February 9-10: Ajijic Society of the Arts Open Studios Art Walk
February 9-11: Nuestra Señora de Lourdes festivities in Chapala
February 14: Día del Amor y la Amistad (Valentine’s Day)
February 14: Aniversario de la Ciudad (anniversary of the foundation of Guadalajara, 1542)
February 15-17*: 41th annual Chili Cookoff at Tobolandia, Ajijic
February 22-March 5*: Carnaval (Mardi Gras) festivities in Chapala and Ajijic
February 19: Día del Ejercito Mexicano (Mexican Army Day)
February 24: Día de la Bandera (Flag Day)
February 23-24*: Copa Porche sailing competition - Chapala Club de Yates
March 6*: Miércoles de Ceniza (Ash Wednesday)
March 8-15*: Guadalajara International Film Festival (FICG)
March 18*: Conmemoración del Natalicio de Juárez (Birth of Benito Juárez)
March 20: Equinoccio de Primavera (Vernal Equinox) - first day of Spring
April 7*: Horario de Verano (Daylight Saving Time begins)-move clocks forward one hour
April 12*: Viernes de Dolores (Friday of Sorrows)-Virgen de Dolores altar displays
April 14*: Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday) - Passion Play episodes staged throughout the week in Ajijic, San Antonio Tlayacapan and Chapala
April 18*: Jueves Santo (Maundy Thursday)
April 19*: Viernes Santo (Good Friday)
April 21*: Domingo de Resurrección (Easter Sunday)
April 23: Día Internacional del Libro (World Book Day)- public reading marathons of an entire book by a world-famous author
April 30: Día del Niño (Children’s Day)
May 1-31: Festival Cultural de Mayo - music and dance programs held in Guadalajara and other Jalisco venues
May 1: Dia del Trabajo (Labor Day)
May 3: Day of the Holy Cross-Fiestas Patronales in Santa Cruz de la Soledad start April 25.
May 5: Cinco de Mayo (Commemoration of Battle of Puebla, 1862)
May 5: Señor del Guaje-festivities in Jocotepec start April 27
May 10: Día de las Madres (Mother’s Day-Mexico)
May 15: Día del Maestro (Teacher’s Day)
May 23: Día del Estudiante (Student’s Day)
June 1: Día de la Marina Nacional (Navy Day)
June 5-13: San Antonio de Padua Fiestas Patronales in San Antonio Tlayacapan
June 16*: Día del Padre (Father’s Day)
June 21: Solsticio de Verano (Summer Solstice)-first day of Summer
June 14-24: San Juan Bautista Fiestas Patronales in San Juan Cosalá and San Juan Tecomatlán
June 29: San Pedro y San Pablo Apostoles-Fiestas Patronales & Feria in San Pedro Tlaquepaque runs June 15-30
July 8-16: Nuestra Señora del Carmen festivities in Chapala
July 17-25: Santo Santiago Fiestas Patronales in Tonalá, Nextipac in Zapopan and Ixtlahuacan de los Membrillos
August 7-15: Virgen de la Asuncion Fiestas Patronales in Mezcala
August 10-25: Festival del Lago Academy of Music and Concert series in Ajijic
August 10-11*: Feria del Membrillo (Quince Fair) - Atotonilquillo
August 22: Día del Bombero (Firefighter’s Day)
August 30-September 8*: 26th Encuentro Internacional del Mariachi y la Charrería (Guadalajara Mariachi and Charrería Fest). The Encuentro Nacional de Mariachi Tradicional runs one week prior to the main event.
August 28: Día del Adulto Mayor (Senior Citizens Day)
September 13: Día de los Niños Héroes (Heroic Defense of Chapultepec, 1847)
September 14: Día del Charro (Horseman’s Day)
September 14: Regata de Globos paper balloon exhibition in Ajijic
September 15: Grito de Dolores (Cry of Independence, 1810)
September 16: Día de la Independencia (Independence Day)
September 23: Equinoccio de Otoño (Autumn Equinox) - first day of fall
September 26-October 4: San Francisco de Asís Fiestas Patronales in Chapala
September 28: Día del Servidor Público (Jalisco Bureaucrats Day) - government offices and public institutions close
October 1-31: Guadalajara’s annual Fiestas de Octubre (Oktoberfest) & Expo Ganadera (Livestock Fair)
October 1-31: Virgen del Rosario festivities in Ajijic
October 12: Día de la Raza (Columbus Day)
October 12: Romería de la Virgen de Zapopan (Guadalajara-Zapopan Pilgrimage)
October 27*: Horario de Invierno (Daylight Saving Time ends)-move clocks back one hour
November 1: Día de todos Santos (All Saints’ Day)
November 2: Día de los Muertos (All Souls’ Day)
November 12: Día del Cartero (Mailman’s Day)
November 18*: Día de la Revolución Mexicana (Revolution Day)
November 17-25: Cristo Rey festivities in Chapala
November 23: Día de la Armada de México (Mexico Armed Forces Day)
November 21-30: San Andrés Apóstol Fiestas Patronales in Ajijic
November 30-December 8*: Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL)
November 25: Heroic Defense of Mezcala Island commemoration
November 28-December 6: San Nicolas de Bari Fiestas Patronales inSan Nicolas de Ibarra
December 4-12: Virgen de Guadalupe (patroness of Mexico) festivities nationwide
December 16-24: Las Posadas (Christmas season festivities)
December 21: Solsticio de Invierno (Winter Soltice) - first day of winter
December 24: Noche Buena (Christmas Eve)
December 25: Navidad (Christmas Day)
December 28: Día de los Santos Inocentes (Holy Innocents Day) - Mexico’s equivalent to April Fools.
December 31: Año Viejo (New Year’s Eve)