Whenever it comes to the Easter holidays in Mexico, it basically consists of a two-week-long celebration. All the Catholics in this country consider Semana Santa, the holy week leading to Easter, and Semana de Pascua, the week just after Easter Sunday, crucial times for religious and cultural appreciation. Most of the schools and businesses close during this week, and the Mexican nationals flock to the beachside in order to enjoy and spend quality time with families and loved ones. This week is also a time reserved for religious worship by way of special church ceremonies and rituals that involve reenactments of Jesus’s crucifixion.
Talking about the decorations, Altars are decorated in the churches and homes. Crosses constructed of palms and flowers fill the streets along with religious symbols. Though the celebration takes place during the entire Holy Week, but Monday, Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday are of more importance. Monday and Thursday mark the beginning of Easter and are celebrated cheerfully with masses. From Thursday until Easter, the church bells remain silent.
Dates of Holy WeekÂ
The Holy Week in Mexico runs from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, but since the students here enjoy the 2-week break during this time, the next week after Easter is also considered a part of the national holiday. The date of Easter changes every year, and it is generally calculated on the basis of the moon’s cycle and the spring equinox, with Easter falling on the first Sunday after the first full moon occurring after or on the equinox. During the year 2025, Easter will fall on 20th April.
Travel During the Holy WeekÂ
For most people, Semana Santa, i.e., Holy Week, is just like a vacation. During this time, many people consider traveling and hitting the beaches. The prices of everything are inflated, and the roads are congested. You will have to pay double for a hotel, and you may also have to sit in traffic for a couple of hours.
Most of the Semana Santa events are held outdoors, which directly indicates that there is a lot of street food available. The most spectacular Holy Week celebration takes place in Iztapalapa in Mexico City, Taxco, San Miguel de Allende and San Luis Potosi. In short, Semana Santa or Holy Week is a festive and spiritual time in Mexico City. It is a special event to celebrate and enjoy the old-age traditions of Mexico.
Holy Week: Wonderful Time of the Year!!
Easter is definitely a wonderful time of the whole year to visit Mexico. So, if you wish to experience one of the essential Mexican Catholic rituals, then you must surely plan a visit to Mexico soon and experience the rituals and traditions of the Holy Week. In addition to Holy Week, there are several other things in Mexico that will for sure make you fall in love with this place and its traditions!