On Monday, March 15, Mexico takes the day off to mark the birth of Benito Juarez, one of the nation’s most respected presidents.
Juarez served as president of Mexico on three separate occasions between 1858 and 1872 and fought off the French occupation of Mexico. He instituted the Reform laws to break the Catholic Church’s hold on the nation. Textbooks praise his moral courage, honesty and opposition to class privileges.
Banks, diplomatic missions and government agencies will all close March 15. Many stores will also have the day off. Supermarkets will remain open. Guadalajara’s Sunday Via RecreActiva will be extended through the holiday Monday, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The holiday is moved to Monday, although the actual date of Juarez’s birth is March 21.