Mexico Events for 2004

JANUARY

1: New Year’s Day (Año Nuevo)–Nationwide. Mexico rings in the New Year with a wealth of music, dance, food and fireworks. Streets are filled with revelers, friends and families congregating for parties that often last till dawn. One tradition calls for eating twelve grapes, one with each stroke of the chiming bell at midnight, for luck during the next 12 months.

6: Three Kings’ Day (Día de los Santos Reyes)–Nationwide. The Feast of the Epiphany recalls the arrival in Bethlehem of the three wise men (reyes magos) bearing gifts for the baby Jesus. This is the day of traditional gift-giving for children in the central and southern regions of Mexico. Rosca de Reyes, a crown-shaped bread decorated with candied fruits with a small doll baked inside, is served on this day. Whoever finds the figure in his slice of bread must give a party on February 2, Candlemas Day (Día de la Candelaria), offering tamales (stuffed cornflour cakes wrapped in corn husks or banana leaves) and atole (a hot, sweet drink thickened with corn flour) to the guests.

FEBRUARY

2: Candlemas Day (Día de la Candelaria) – Nationwide. Celebrated with candlelit processions and dancing in many towns throughout the country, this day marks the end of the Christmas celebrations. On this day, Mexicans enjoy tamales and atole. The musical events, parades and dances are especially memorable in the port city of Tlacotalpan, Veracruz, where a bull is rafted into town and released.

Feb-Mar: Carnival – Nationwide. A five-day celebration beginning the week before Lent and marked with parades, parties and dancing in the streets. Some of the most famous and festive celebrations are held in the port towns of Veracruz, Cozumel, La Paz and Mazatlán.

The Mexico Tourism Board (MTB), also referred to as the Consejo de Promoción Turística de Mexico (CPTM), brings together the resources of federal and state governments, municipalities and private companies to promote Mexico’s tourism attractions and destinations internationally. The MTB has eight offices throughout North America — Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Montreal, New York, Toronto, and Vancouver — as well as in Europe, Japan and Latin America. These offices are dedicated to supporting the wholesalers, travel agents, airlines and hotel chains that serve the country.

For additional ideas, help with a story or general travel and tourism information about Mexico, please contact the Mexico Travel News Bureau directly at 1-800-929-4555, by e-mail at mexicotravelnews@bm.com, or visit our press web site at http://www.visitmexicopress.com

December 30, 2003   Posted in: Mexico