The month of May is always a busy one in Mexico. We celebrate the birth of patriot Miguel Hidalgo, the Battle of Pueblo; we celebrate workers, students and teachers. But the most important fiesta in any household is without a doubt Mother’s Day.
01 May- Día del Trabajador/ Day of the Worker (Labor Day): Mexico takes this holiday very seriously. Marches, demonstrations take place in every town and parade in front of the mayor and/or City Hall, as people continue to fight for their rights and as a reminder for promises given them by the government.
While the USA and Canada celebrate Labor Day in September, Mexico and much of the world celebrate International Workers Day on the day originally set in 1889, when May 1 was chosen to commemorate the Haymarket Riots in Chicago of 1886.
03 May- Día del Albañil, Día de la Santa Cruz/ Bricklayer’s Day, Holy Cross Day: What you will see: Crosses decorated with paper and/or real flowers will adorn places of construction. Sort of a hybrid holiday, it is a day that celebrates mason workers on the day of the Holy Cross. One tradition says that the origin of this hybrid comes from the old tradition of honoring the Roman Catholic day of the Holy Cross by placing a cross for protection in places of work. Another tradition says it began in the 1500s, when special crosses were placed in honor of Holy Cross Day atop of churches that were being built, and workers were given food and drink to celebrate. In some places in Mexico, rockets (fireworks, that is!) are still fired on this day; tradition says that was originally to frighten off evil spirits.
05 May- La Batalla de Puebla/ The Battle of Puebla: You probably know this holiday simply by it’s more popular nickname North of the Border: Cinco de Mayo. Contrary to popular belief Up North, this is NOT our independence day (that is in September). The Battle of Puebla commemorates our victory over the French invasion in 1862 in an important battle where odds were completely against us. The well-trained French troops of 4,00-6,000 (depending on your history source) vs a ragtag group of 2,000 or less (depending on source) mostly indigenous Mexicans with little to no military training. Basically a David vs. Goliath battle. We beat the French that day. Although they would not retreat for another 6 years, it was the win that instilled hope to our masses that yes, we indeed could do this!
08 May- The birth of Miguel Hidalgo: On this day in 1753, the Padre de la Patria- the Father of our Mexican patriotism- was born. Born into a family of wealth, was highly educated and entered into the Catholic priesthood. He questioned the ethics of the Spanish crown as well as the Church, and had a heart for the voiceless poor. He gave the famous cry for independence that called out to the masses to follow him in the rebellion, initiating the war for independence in 1810.
10 May- Día de la Madre/Mother’s Day: Celebrated on May 10 every year. Mexico is a very matriarchal society. Throw the macho stereotype out the window, as Mamá always rules the roost here. However, Día de la Madre has only been celebrated since 1922, supposedly in response to a growing feminist movement. Newspaper journalist Rafael Alducin wrote in the newspaper Excelsior about forming the holiday, and the rest is history.
15 May- Día del Maestro/Teachers Day: We celebrate our teachers! The first time that Teacher’s Day was celebrated in our country was in 1918. Chosen to be on the Catholic saint day of educational reformer Jean-Baptiste de La Salle, one of the founders of modern pedagogy, it is also the anniversary of the taking of Querétaro in 1867, when Emperor Maximilian would be captured, ending the French Intervention in Mexico.
23 May- Día del Estudiante/Students Day: Commemorates education freedom, in honor of the brutal attack of students by police in 1929. The students were on strike at the national university in favor of university autonomy, freedom of thought and academic freedom.
