Topic: Holidays and Events

For anyone who is here and interested, tonight should be "El Grito" - the huge mass affirmation of independence. It happens in Plaza Republica across from the Catedral. Lots of people, lots of shouting, lots of fireworks, lots of fun. Last year, we could hear the cries of ¡Viva México! from our house. The shout usually happens at 10:00 pm.

Today is my Mexican birthday. I have two birthdays: the date of my actual birth, and my Mexican birthday. How did I get so lucky? By being hugely disappointed last year. We were supposed to be in Mazatlan in time to celebrate my real birthday, April 16th. I was really looking forward to going to my favorite palapa on the beach, eating a ton of garlic shrimp, and enjoying the beach, but the darn house just wouldn't sell.

Here in Mexico, there is no figure in society who is more important than Mom. Without her, everything falls apart, and everyone knows it. Mother's day doesn't fall on a convenient Sunday here. It is May 10th every year. On Mother's Day, everything stops. If you haven't completed all of your shopping by 3 pm, you are out of luck. It's easier to find an open market on a Sunday.

Today, April 30th, is Children's Day here in Mexico. It's celebrated throughout the country in a variety of ways. In Mexico City there is always a big parade. In most places the kids still have to go to school but there are no classes and they don't have to wear their uniforms. There are usually lots or games and toys and candy, and, of course, piñatas.

Today marks the end of Mazatlan Bike Week 2008. It's the last festival in a closely packed season. We were just recovering from Carnival when Semana Santa started, which blended directly into Bike Week. It has been a veritable cornucopia of eye candy with all the custom bikes.

Dia de la Revolucion (Revolution Day) is celebrated on November 20 and commemorates the beginning of the Mexican Revolution in 1910 which ended the rule of dictatorial President Porfirio Díaz Mori. The war, which gave rise to folk heroes like Emiliano Zapata and Pancho Villa, lasted seven years and killed 7% of the population. The end came in 1917 with the ratification of the current Constitution of Mexico. Revolution Day is often confused with Dia de la Indepencia (Independence Day), September 16, which celebrates Mexican independence from Spain.

The 13 Wonders of Mexico (Maravillas de Mexico), a competition organized by TV Azteca and the Council of Tourist Promotion Mexico (CPTM), ended on September 25 with Mazatlan chosen as one of the 13 Man Made Wonders of Mexico. Mazatlan competed with over 40 other locations in Mexico in the 10-week contest which received 1.5 million votes. Now the celebrations start.

November 1st (All Saints' Day) and 2nd (All Souls' Day) marked the Dia de los Muertos celebrations here in Mazatlan. When I lived in Texas, I heard that November 1 is a day for deceased children, while November 2 is a day for deceased adults, but here in Mazatlan, it seemed more like the first was a publicly celebratory day, while the second was reserved for private celebrations with family at home and at the cemeteries.