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Events in Mexico: January
New Year celebrations are particularly lively in downtown Mexico City: although you'll find festivals and parties happening all over the country. Also, don't miss one of Merida's largest annual parties -- see details below.
Details of some of the events listed are supplied by Mexico's States via the Mexico Tourism Board.
Dates of some of the events are subject to change. Please check website links (where available) for details and/or check locally for any schedule alterations.
Choose Event Start Dates of Interest
JAN 1: New Year's Day (Año Nuevo) -- Nationwide
A national holiday, and a day of celebrations, parties and festivals. Check locally to see what specific activities are planned. Many people also use this day to sleep off the partying from the night before!
JAN 2-12: City of Merida Festival (Festival de la Ciudad de Merida) -- Merida, Yucatan
In celebration of the city's founding more than 461 years ago, this ten-day festival features music, dance and exhibits of local art, as well as the annual serenade to the city, where the traditional "Mañanitas" (the "Happy Birthday" song) is sung by its residents.
JAN 5-23: Merida International Arts Festival -- Merida, Yucatan
Sponsored by CONACULTA (The National Board of Culture), INBA (National Institute of Fine Arts), the state of Yucatan and the city of Merida, this arts festival will feature live concerts, opera, dance, theater, poetry readings, art and photography exhibitions as well as films from all over the world. Many events will be taking place at the Jose Marti Cultural Center, Olimpo's Cultural Center, Merida's city theater, the University of Yucatan and Jose Peon Contreras? Theater.
JAN 6: Three Kings' Day (Dia de los Santos Reyes) -- Nationwide
This is the day that gifts are traditionally exchanged as it represents the day that the Three Kings arrived at the Nativity to give their gifts to the baby Jesus. This is also a day when Rosca de los Reyes (King's Loaf) is served, a round, doughnut-like cake, which contains a little plastic doll somewhere inside. By tradition, if you are served the slice that contains the doll, you must host a party on Dia de la Candelaria in February.
JAN 14 - FEB 7: Leon State Fair -- Leon, Guanajuato. Leon City
located just 45 minutes outside of Guanajuato, hosts this annual fair which features concerts, dance, food and much more. One of the highlights of this year's fair is an ancient Totonac ritual performed by dancers of all ages called Los Voladores de Papantla (Flyers from Papantla). These professional dancers launch themselves from the top of a 100-foot pole and slowly descend, flying through the air as the ropes around the pole unwind.
JAN 15-23: St. Sebastian Fiesta (Fiesta de San Sebastian el Martir) -- Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas
This fiesta is famous for its "parachicos" tour, which features a dancing procession from the Santo Domingo church to the San Antonio Hermit and ends in a delectable food festival featuring traditional dishes such as "pepita con tasajo" made of beef in a creamy pumpkin seed sauce. On the night of the 21st, a traditional nautical battle takes place on the Grijalva River which concludes in a spectacle of fireworks.
JAN 19: Ceremony of the Pocho Dance -- Tenosique, Tabasco
Dating back to prehispanic times, the traditional "Pocho" dance means it's almost Carnaval time in Tabasco. The Pochü consists of a series of dances and other ancient ceremonies performed by masked dancers, many dressed as jaguars and tigers. The dance symbolizes the purification of man through the battle between good and evil. The Pocho performances begin on January 20 at the main park in Tenosique and on all subsequent Sundays prior to the commencement of Carnival. On the last day, the dancers dance backwards from the main square to the church where the dance began.