Foreigners new to Mexico are often surprised at the difference in how Easter is celebrated here—not least for its contradictions.
From exercising Lenten self-restraint to withstanding the beating sun to witnessing dramatic reenactments of Jesus’ final hours, the devout take the holiday seriously. Yet, at the same time, heads of households—for many the only time off they have all year—will pack their families off to the coast for a week of exuberant merry-making.
Some of the best Easter traditions in Mexico are regional —the scenes of flagellation in Taxco and the fine crafts market in Uruapan, for example—and held in towns that are a pleasure to visit year-round. But while Easter is a good time to explore the “interior” of Mexico, be warned that hotels can fill up. The exception is Mexico City, which slows down to a crawl during Easter Week and is the perfect time to visit. Here’s a smorgasbord of Easter traditions that don’t involve guzzling crates of beer or shoulder-to-shoulder suntanning on sweaty, overcrowded beaches.