What Revolution Day Commemorates
Revolution Day, known in Mexico as Día de la Revolución, commemorates the Mexican Revolution of 1910–1917. The uprising began on November 20, 1910, as a revolt against the dictatorship of Porfirio Díaz, who had held power for more than thirty years. Francisco I. Madero led the initial call to arms, protesting a lack of democracy and social justice, while Emiliano Zapata became the leading figure in the south, associated with agrarian reform, and Francisco "Pancho" Villa commanded forces in the north.
The revolution is credited with far-reaching outcomes, including a constitution that limited politicians' time in power, labor reforms such as the eight-hour workday, the abolition of child labor, and equal pay, as well as agrarian reform and the 1917 Constitution. The date now symbolizes the struggle for equality, freedom, and justice, and honors revolutionary figures including Pancho Villa. The revolution was also among the first twentieth-century revolutions documented through film and photography. Historians continue to debate its meaning, and the period is generally described as complex and partly inconclusive.
Origins of the Holiday and Its Date
The holiday marks the anniversary of the revolution's outbreak on November 20, 1910. Since 2006, however, Revolution Day has been observed on the third Monday of November rather than on the fixed date of November 20. This change came as part of Mexico's "long weekend" holiday reform under the Ley Federal del Trabajo, which shifts certain observances to Mondays to create three-day weekends.
Customs and Traditions
Revolution Day is marked with a mix of civic ceremony and public festivity across the country:
- Parades are held in cities and towns nationwide, with a major parade in Mexico City's Zócalo.
- Civil-military parades feature schools, the armed forces, charros (Mexican cowboys), and folk groups marching through the streets.
- Children dress as revolutionaries and in military costumes, and schoolchildren re-enact historical scenes.
- Reenactments of revolutionary events are performed in period costume.
- Outdoor festivals include bazaars, craft fairs, and costume contests.
- Town and city squares host fairs, traditional dances such as the jarabe tapatío (hat dance), and art exhibitions.
- Songs about revolutionary heroes are performed, and crowds shout "¡Viva la Revolución!" and "¡Viva México!"
- Official ceremonies and speeches are held.
Food and Drink
Traditional dishes associated with the date include pozole, tamales, tacos, tacos dorados, enchiladas, tostadas, and fajitas, along with Mexican candies and cookies. In some regions, markets and restaurants offer special menus featuring typical dishes for the occasion.
Civic and Religious Observances
Revolution Day is a national civic holiday rather than a religious one. Its observances center on official ceremonies and speeches, civil-military parades, and school-based civic events and theatrical performances. The day's symbolism is rooted in the secular ideals of the revolution—freedom, social justice, and equal opportunity—rather than in religious practice.
Public Festivities and El Buen Fin
Beyond the parades and civic events, Revolution Day coincides with El Buen Fin ("the good weekend"), a national retail and travel discount event launched in 2011 and modeled on the U.S. Black Friday. It has become a de facto annual shopping event, adding a commercial dimension to the long holiday weekend.
Regional Variations
Celebrations vary from region to region, contributing unique local nuances, and the holiday is observed in colonial-era cities across the country, including San José del Cabo. In the Riviera Maya, for example, there are no massive parades of the kind seen in Mexico City; instead, the day is marked with cultural activities, community events, and family gatherings. Town and village squares and cultural centres there host traditional music, folk dances, and artistic performances, while local schools hold theatrical performances and civic events. The scale and style of observance therefore differ considerably between the capital and other parts of the country.