Holidays
Acapulco is a city that loves a good party. In fact, just when one holiday or special event starts winding down, it seems like another comes right on it's heals. Here's the short list of the best times to be in Acapulco if you're looking for some excitement.
Carnival
Feb. 24 - an official five day Mexican holiday that starts the weekend prior to Lent. While Carnival is famous around the world in places like Rio de Janeiro and New Orleans (Marti Gras) , in Mexico truth be told Mazatlan and especially Veracruz have bigger rowdier Carnivals than Acapulco, something I'm definitely going to address at the next city hall meeting where I'm going to demand the city mobilize because so we can start seeing some half-nude girls in g-strings and pasties and drag queen dressed up like Carmen Miranda riding down the La Costera on floats. Carnival's biggest day is Fat Tuesday before it ends on Ash Wednesday each year.
Semana Santa
This is the holy week that bring to a close the forty days of Lent. Semana Santa includes both Good Friday and Easter Sunday. In Acapulco, its an exceptionally hedonistic week as people form Mexico city fill the city in a collective effort to totally forget about Jesus for a week. They often break confetti-filled eggs over peoples heads or spray them with foam. Some particularly devious sorts like to throw the confetti in other people's mouths. As a Gringo, man, I can't make it out of a parade area without being covered in foam and confetti to the point I'm unrecognizable.
New Years Eve
Another great time to be in Acapulco. The fireworks over the bay, all I have to say is that you have to see it to believe it.
Spring Break
Acapulci is become BIG with the college crowd due to it's exciting nightlife and multitude of private villa rentals that can accomodate large groups.
Mexican Holidays
Date | Holiday |
---|---|
January 1 | Ano Nuevo - this means fireworks with out end over Acapulco bay. |
January 6 | Día de los Santos Reyes - a day to celebrate the arrival of the three wisemen at the birth of baby Jesus. |
January 17 | Day of de San Antonio de Abad is a religious holiday where the Catholic Church allows animals inside the church for a blessing. |
February 5 | Día de la Constitución an official holiday commemorating Mexico's Constitution. |
February 14 | Día de la Amistad/San Valentín - Valentine's Day (A holiday created by the Greeting Card industry to boost sales). |
February 24 | Día de la Bandera, Flag Day. |
March | Mes dedicado al culto de Señor San José, a Month dedicated to the worship of Saint Joseph. |
8 | San Juan de Dios, St. John of God Day |
17 | San Patricio, St. Patrick's Day |
18 | Expropiación Petrolera, Nationalization of Petroleum Industry |
19 | Día de San José, St. Joseph's Day |
21 | Natilicio de Benito Juárez, Benito Juarez' Birthday |
April 16 | Domingo de Ramos, Palm Sunday |
20 | Jueves Santo, Maundy Thursday |
21 | Viernes Santo, Good Friday |
22 | Sábado Santo y de Gloria, Holy Saturday |
23 | Domingo de Gloria/Pascua de Resurrección, Easter Sunday |
25 | San Marcos, Patron Saint of Aguascalientes |
30 | Día del Niño, Children's Day |
May 1 | Día del Trabajo, Labor Day; Also San José Obrero, St. Joseph Day. |
May 5 | Cinco de Mayo - honors the Mexico's victory over the French in Puebla in 1862. Batalla de Puebla, Battle of Puebla |
May 3 | Día de la Santa Cruz, Holy Cross Day |
May 10 | Día de las Madres Mother's Day, Mother's Day |
May 15 | San Isidro Labrador, St. Isador the Farmer. A day for the blessing of animals. |
June 1 | Mes dedicado al culto del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús Navy Day is an official Mexican holiday. |
3 | Domingo de Corpus, Corpus Christi |
4 | Domingo de Asención, Ascension Sunday Pascua de Pentecostés, Pentecost |
13 | San Antonio de Padua, St. Anthony of Padua |
3rd Sunday in June: Día del Padre, Father's Day | |
24 | San Juan Bautista, St. John the Baptist |
27 | Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro, Our Lady of Perpetual Succor |
29 | San Pedro y San Pablo, St. Peter & St. Paul |
July | Mes de la preciosa Sangre de Cristo, Month of the Precious Blood of Christ |
4 | Nuestra Señora del Refugio, Our Lady of Refuge |
16 | Nuestra Señora del Carmen, Our Lady of Mount Carmel |
18-25 | La Guelaguetza-Lunes del Cerro Festival, Oaxaca, Oax. Traditional Folk Festival in Oaxaca |
25 | Santiago Apóstol, St. James the Apostle |
August 15 | La Asunción de la Virgen María, The Assumption of the Virgen Mary |
28 | San Agustín, St. Augustine, Patron Saint of Puebla |
Sept. | Mes de la Fiestas Patrias, Month of National Festivities |
September 1 | Annual State of the Union Address by the President of Mexico |
13 | Aniversario de la muerte de los Niños Heroes, Young Heroes of Chapultepec |
14 | Día del Charro, Horseman's Day |
15 | Conmemoración del Grito de la Independencia, Independence Cry "El Grito" |
16 | Día de la Independencia, Independence Day - Celebrates the day that Miguel Hidalgo delivered El Grito de Dolores, and announced the Mexican revolt against Spanish rule. |
October | Mes dedicado al Santísimo Rosario, Month dedicated to the Holy Rosary |
4 | San Francisco de Asís, Patron Saint of Chapala, Jalisco |
7 | Nuestra Señora del Rosario, Our Lady of the Rosary |
12 | Día de la Raza, Columbus Day Día de la Raza - Celebrates Columbus' arrival to the Americas and birth of the Mexican race; Also, Romería de la Virgen de Zapopan, Pilgimage Guadalajara-Zapopan |
28 | My Birthday and also Dia de San Judas |
Nov. 1 | Todos los Santos, All Saints Day Día de los Muertos is an important Mexican holiday that merges Pre-Columbian Aztec religion and modern Catholicism. |
2 | Día de los Fieles Difuntos, Day of the Dead-All Souls Day |
12 | Día del Cartero, Mailman's Day - post offices are closed |
20 | Aniversario de la Revolución Mexicana, Revolution Day |
22 | Santa Cecilia, St. Cecilia,Patron Saint of Musicians |
30 | San Andrés, St. Andrew, Patron Saint of Ajijic, Jalisco |
Dec. | Month of the Nativity of the Lord and of the Virgin of Guadalupe. |
6 | San Nicolás, St. Nicholas Day |
8 | La Inmaculada Concepción de la Virgen María, Day of the Immaculate Conception |
12 | Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, Our Lady of Guadalupe |
16-24 | Posadas Navideñas, Pre-Christmas festivities |
24 | Noche Buena, Christmas Eve |
25 | Navidad, Christmas Day |
28 | Día de los Santos Inocentes, Day of the Holy Innocents |
31 | Festejos de fin de Año, New Year's Eve |