¡BUENA IDEA!
Plan promotions around Hispanic festivals
©2005 Maiden Name Press LLC
Jose's Mexican Restaurant in North Cambridge, Mass., celebrates every Mexican holiday with a special menu. It's something to consider as you plan your 2006 menus and promotions. Below is a list of the festivals Jose's features on its website:
- JANUARY
- Jan. 1 — Año Nuevo (New Year's Day)
- Jan. 6 — Día de los Santos Reyes. The day when Mexicans exchange Christmas presents in remembrance of the day the Three Wisemen brought gifts to Jesus.
- Jan. 17 — Feast Day of San Antonio de Abad. A religious holiday during which the Catholic Church allows ani mals to enter the church for blessing.
- FEBRUARY
- Feb. 5 — Día de la Constitución. An official holiday that commemorates Mexico's Constitution.
- Feb. 24 — Flag Day. Mexican national holiday that honors the Mexican flag.
- MARCH
- March 5 — Carnaval. Official Mexican holiday kicks off a five-day celebration before Catholic Lent.
- March 21 — The Birthday of Benito Juarez. National holiday honoring Mexico's famous president and national hero.
- APRIL
- Semana Santa — The holy week, including Good Friday and Easter Sunday, that ends the 40-day Lent period. It is Mexican custom to break confetti-filled eggs over the heads of family and friends.
- MAY
- May 1 — Primero de Mayo. Mexican holiday that is equivalent to Labor Day.
- May 5 — Cinco de Mayo. Honors the Mexican defeat of the French army at Puebla de los Angeles in 1862.
- May 10 — Mother's Day. Due to the importance of the mother in Mexican culture, Mother's Day is an
especially significant holiday.
- JUNE
- June 1 — Navy Day. An official Mexican holiday.
- SEPTEMBER
- Sept. 1 — Annual State of the Union. Though this date is an approximation, the president delivers the address in the autumn.
- Sept. 8 — Día de Nuestra Señora. Local Baja holiday that cele brates Baja's first mission.
- Sept. 16 — Mexican Independence Day. Celebrates the day Miguel Hidalgo delivered El Grito de Dolores, and announc- ed the Mexican revolt against Spanish rule.
- OCTOBER
- Oct. 12 — Día de la Raza. Celebrates Columbus' arrival to the Americas, and the historical origins of the Mexican race.
- NOVEMBER
- Nov. 1 and 2 — Día de los Muertos. Mexican holiday that merges pre-Columbian beliefs and modern Catholicism. Europe's All-Saints' Day and the Aztec's worship of the dead contribute to these days that honor Mexico's dead.
- Nov. 20 — Mexican Revolution Day. Official Mexican holiday celebrates the Mexican Revolution of 1910.
- DECEMBER
- Dec. 12 — Día de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe is celebrated with a feast honoring Mexico's patron saint.
- Dec. 16-Jan. 6 — Las Posadas. Celebrates Joseph's and Mary's search for shelter in Bethlehem
with candlelight processions that end at various
nativity scenes.
- Dec. 25 — Navidad, Christmas Day.
