Discover the Richness of Mexican Traditions: Celebrations, Customs, and Cultural Heritage

Mexican traditions are so diverse, full of magic and colorful, living them is a magical, cultural and historical experience.

Undoubtedly, one of the towns with the greatest cultural presence in the world is Mexico, its history says so.

In every town in Mexico, Mexican traditions are breathed as something natural and proper; it is not a media show to attract tourists, nor do they seek to attract the focus of the world’s media, they are just there.

Every year, in every town of Mexico there are traditions so ancestral, that even before the colony, they were already part of the citizen life.

Every country has customs and traditions that identify them in the rest of the world, and Mexico is no exception.

Throughout the year you can find festivities full of music, dances and color with a deep meaning and strong cultural roots.

Mexican traditions have managed to remain throughout the years, some have been transformed, have been mixed with customs from other states or countries, but managing to rescue and preserve their roots.

Table of Contents

The most popular Mexican traditions

Mexican traditions are the following:

Day of the Dead
Independence Day
Day of the Three Kings
Veracruz Carnival
San Marcos Fair
Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe
Guelaguetza
Posadas
Holy Week
Voladores de Papantla
Singing Mariachis at a party
Dance of the Parachicos
Christmas Eve and Christmas
New Year’s Eve
Candlemas Day
Alebrijes Parade in CDMX
Battle of Puebla – May 5
Feast of Santa Cecilia.

Mexican traditions by origin

Some Mexican traditions have a religious origin, i.e., celebrations of patron saints whose dates vary depending on the locality and the saint to whom they are devoted.

There are also Mexican traditions by historical dates, among which we can mention the military parades held on May 5th and November 20th to commemorate the Battle of Puebla and the Mexican Revolution, respectively.

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And in reference to Mexican traditions of cultural origin we can mention the Pelota Purépecha held in Michoacán, and others.

Among the most popular Mexican traditions in Mexico, due to their cultural range and impact, the Day of the Dead, the celebration of the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe or the national holidays, are the ones that have more roots and participation.

Most Relevant Mexican Traditions

But there are other Mexican traditions so anecdotal and with a lot of folkloric meaning that they are also considered of great importance.

The most outstanding Mexican traditions are:

Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).

One of the most popular Mexican traditions is to honor the dead through the Day of the Dead, this tradition takes place on November 1st and 2nd of each year.

The Day of the Dead fills the streets of all cities and municipalities, and Mexican homes with color.

One of the interesting things about Mexico is that this holiday lasts two days. The first day is when children are remembered and the second day is when adults are remembered.

Honoring and showing respect to the dead is a Mexican custom that has been maintained and transmitted from generation to generation.

The representative elements of the ofrendas are the cempazúchitl flower, papel picado, incense and food to the liking of the honorees, as well as sugar skulls with the names of the living.

The traditions of this celebration include visiting the cemeteries of our departed loved ones, cleaning the graves and placing flowers.

One of the most outstanding customs is to place an altar to welcome the deceased who visit us during these days.

Independence Day and the Cry of Dolores

Every September 16, Mexicans around the world celebrate Mexico’s Independence Day.

It is one of the traditions that best represents the pride of being Mexican, and for this reason all of September is called the patriotic month.

On the night of September 15, Mexicans gather in the sockets of each city or in their homes, on that day, is the Grito de Dolores.

Outside the country, Mexicans in different parts of the world do not let this day go by and also gather to celebrate.

The main event of the night is the famous ¨Grito de Independencia¨ simulating what Father Hidalgo did on September 16, 1810. The President of the Republic is in charge of making this representation at a national level and in each city and municipality it is replicated by the governors in turn.

During this celebration you can enjoy a military parade, mariachi music, concerts of artists of different genres, fireworks.

In addition, there is a parade of traditional Mexican dishes, in which “garnachas” are prepared: pambazos, gorditas, tacos dorados, pozole, panza, chiles en nogada, etc.

Christmas Posadas

The Christmas posadas are part of the Mexican traditions, and it does not refer to hotel posadas, they take place from December 16 to 24.

They are one of the most beautiful traditions in Mexico that you cannot miss.

During the 9 days of the posadas, prayers are said, and each one has a different meaning: humility, strength, detachment, charity, trust, justice, purity, joy and generosity.

By custom, a different house is set aside for each day, where neighbors and family members organize themselves to carry out these activities. After the prayers, there is a social gathering where food and drinks are offered to the attendees and they can break the traditional piñata.

In the posadas it is customary for participants to sell their eyes to break the piñata, which is made of baked clay or cardboard and decorated with colorful papier-mâché colors.

Holy Week in Mexico

Another Mexican tradition is Holy Week in Mexico, which is closely followed by the parishioners.

But each region has its own particularities, which elevate the religious and cultural significance.

Holy Week in Mexico is one of the most important celebrations in each state.

In some states these festivities have become representations that, little by little, have transcended borders and are now a must-see regardless of whether local or international visitors are looking for silent processions, with music and dances or even ‘whippings’.

The best known is undoubtedly the “Passion of Christ”, which takes place in Iztapalapa, Mexico City.

There are also others with little diffusion at national level, such as the “Tewerichic”, the Holy Week of the Rarámuri people.

The colonial city of Taxco de Alarcón, Guerrero, is one of the best known for its Holy Week festivities.

This solemn celebration is characterized by the parishioners marching in silence while carrying rolls of thorns weighing up to 50 kilos.

This famous festivity takes place in places such as Taxco, Guerrero; Querétaro; San Luis Potosí and San Cristóbal de las Casas, in the state of Chiapas.

While there is also the traditional dance of “los pintos” marks the beginning of the Holy Week celebrations for the urban communities of the Rarámuri people located in Chihuahua.