Fiestas Patrias (Mexico)
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This article is about The Fiestas Patrias of Mexico. For other uses, see Fiestas Patrias.
Fiestas Patrias is a Spanish phrase meaning "Patriotic Holidays".
The Fiestas Patrias in Mexico originated in the 19th century. They are observed today as public holidays.
In chronological order:
- Día de la Constitución (Constitution Day) commemorates the Constitution of 1917, promulgated after the Mexican Civil War on February 5. Article 74 of the Mexican labor law (Ley Federal del Trabajo) provides that the first Monday of February (regardless the date) will be an official holiday in Mexico. This was a modification of the law made in 2005, effective since 2006; before, it was the February 5th regardless of the day, and all schools gave extended holidays if the day was a Tuesday or Thursday.
- Natalicio de Benito Juárez (Birth of Benito Juárez) commemorates President Benito Juárez's birthday on March 21, 1806. Juárez is popularily regarded as an exemplary politician due to his liberal policies that, among other things, defined the traditionally strict separation of the church and the Mexican state. Article 74 of the Mexican labor law (Ley Federal del Trabajo) provides that the third Monday of March (regardless the date) will be an official holiday in Mexico.
- Día del Trabajo (Labor Day) commemorates the Mexican workers' union movements on May 1 — specifically, the 1906 Cananea, Sonora, and the 1907 Río Blanco, Veracruz, labor unrest and repression.
- Cinco de Mayo (Fifth of May) commemorates General Ignacio Zaragoza's victory on May 5, 1862, over the French expeditionary forces in the Battle of Puebla. Cinco de Mayo celebrates the legendary Battle of Puebla, Mexico on May 5, 1862 in which a Mexican force of 4,500 men faced 6,000 men of the ominous and well trained forces of Napoleon III's French Army. The battle, which lasted all of four hours ended in a moral and physical victory for the Mexican Army under the 33 year old General Ignacio Zaragoza.
- Dieciséis de septiembre or Día de la Independencia (September sixteen or independence day) commemorates Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla's Grito de Dolores — on September 16, 1810, in the village of Dolores, near Guanajuato. Hidalgo called for the end of Spanish rule in Mexico. On September 16, 1825, the Republic of Mexico officially declared the day its national Independence Day.
- Día de la Revolución commemorates the Mexican Revolution which started on November 20, 1910 when Francisco I. Madero planned an uprising against dictator Porfirio Díaz's 34-year long iron rule. Article 74 of the Mexican labor law (Ley Federal del Trabajo) provides that the third Monday of November (regardless the date) will be an official holiday in Mexico. This was a modification of the law made in 2005, effective since 2006; before then, it was November 20 regardless of the day, and all schools gave extended holidays if the day was a Tuesday or Thursday. Although November 20 is the official day, the uprising started on different days in different parts of the country.
Contrary to US popular belief, Cinco de mayo is not the most important national holiday in Mexico. That distinction is reserved for Dieciséis de septiembre, which is celebrated from the evening of September 15 with a re-creation of the Grito de Dolores by all executive office-holders (from the President of the Republic down to municipal presidents) and lasts through the night. In contrast, Cinco de mayo is observed as a notable date, but it is not considered more or less important than, for example, Constitution Day or Benito Juárez's birthday.
