Skip to main content
HolidayList
📅 holiday

Holy Thursday *

Thursday, April 2, 2026

— days to go

Easter in Mexico is arguably the most important holiday and religious season of the year as the nation’s majority-catholic population remembers the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus. Though not official national holidays, Holy Thursday and Good Friday are treated as such across the country. In 2027, Holy Thursday falls on 25 March, while Good Friday falls on 26 March. In 2028, Good Friday will be observed on 14 April. Note: Easter is not an official national holiday, but is widely observed throughout Mexico. The lead-up to Holy Week begins with carnival celebrations just prior to the 40-day Lenten season, which is known in Mexico as “Cuaresma.” Red meats are given up during this time, and the Mexican diet is significantly adjusted as a result. Ash Wednesday is the day after carnival celebrations and marks the start of lent. Semana Santa (Holy Week) begins on Palm Sunday and runs until Easter Sunday. On Palm Sunday, Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem riding on a donkey is celebrated. Since the Jews of his day tore down palm branches and laid them in his path, many processions throughout Mexico reenact this event. The people carry palm leaves through the streets to commemorate this holy day one week before Easter. On Holy Thursday, the day when Jesus washed his disciples’ feet during the Last Supper, there is a special mass and often a foot-washing ceremony. This was also the day on which Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, and some Mexicans visit seven churches to keep a “vigil” of prayer and devotion on the day when the disciples were told to “watch and pray” in the garden but failed. On Holy Friday, when Christ was crucified, icons of Christ and of Mary are carried about the towns along with costumed participants. There are many passion plays, reenacting the arrest, trial, sufferings, death, and Resurrection of Christ. On Holy Saturday, or “Sabado de Gloria” (Saturday of Glory), Judas is burned in effigy in some parts of Mexico. He is shamed in this way because of his betrayal of Christ for 30 pieces of silver. Figurines are made out of cardboard or paper mache, sometimes with firecrackers tied on, and then burned up. On Easter Sunday, there is little to be found of Easter baskets, candy, boiled eggs, and bunnies. Instead, it is a solemn occasion whereon the faithful attend mass and then return to their homes for a special family dinner. In some locations, however, there are fireworks displays, dancing, musical performances, and colourful processions.

History

Easter in Mexico is arguably the most important holiday and religious season of the year as the nation’s majority-catholic population remembers the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus. Ash Wednesday is the day after carnival celebrations and marks the start of lent. Since the Jews of his day tore down palm branches and laid them in his path, many processions throughout Mexico reenact this event

How It's Celebrated

Easter in Mexico is arguably the most important holiday and religious season of the year as the nation’s majority-catholic population remembers the suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus. Though not official national holidays, Holy Thursday and Good Friday are treated as such across the country.

Other Years

2027 Thu
25 Mar
2028 Thu
13 Apr
2026 Thu
2 Apr
2025 Thu
17 Apr

Countries

🇲🇽 MX

You Might Also Like

View all →
🌍 observance Jan 6

Dry Bean

In 500, BC. Dry Beans Ancient Cultivation. Dry beans were being cultivated in ancient civilizations in Peru and Mexico around 500 BC

MXPE
🌍 observance Jan 10

National Bittersweet Chocolate

In 1500, BCE. Early Use of Cacao Beans. The Olmec civilization in Mexico first started to cultivate cacao beans, a key ingredient in chocolate

MXUS
🌍 observance Jan 21

Mariachi

In 1800, s. Birth of Mariachi Music. Originating in western Mexico, Mariachi became a distinctive form of orchestra music featuring string instruments

MXUS
📅 holiday Feb 10

Feast of St Paul's Shipwreck

The Feast of Saint Paul’s Shipwreck is a holiday unique to Malta because it was on Malta that the Apostle Paul was shipwrecked around the year A.D. 60. In 2027, Feast of St Paul's Shipwreck falls on Wednesday 10 February. The holiday will be on Thursday 10 February in 2028. The feast is kept on February 10th each year, and as Paul is the patron saint of Malta, it is a much-anticipated event. Out of dozens of “saint days” on the church calendar in Malta, the Feast of Saint Paul is one of only a handful that have the status of a national holiday. The account of Paul’s shipwreck and three-month, wintertime stay on Malta is found in the Bible’s Acts 27:27 through 28:11. He was being taken to Rome as a prisoner to eventually stand trial before Caesar. God let him know in advance he would be shipwrecked but would spare the lives of all on board, which promise was later kept and in answer to Paul’s prayers for their lives. The Bible says the storm was in the Adriatic Sea, though Malta borders the Ionian Sea, because in ancient times, the Adriatic’s boundaries were considered to extend much farther south. The ship broke up on the rocks near the shores of Malta, and all swam ashore. The local population greeted them, but thought he might be a murderer whom the “goddess of justice” had finally caught up with after he was bitten by a poisonous snake. After he lived, however, they supposed him to be, perhaps, a god. Paul, however, soon showed them it was God’s power at work in a mere man by healing the governor of the island, Publius, and many others who were sick or disabled among the island’s population. No doubt, Paul preached the Gospel to them as well, and when he left Malta, the inhabitants gave him all necessary supplies out of gratitude. The Feast of Saint Paul’s Shipwreck is kept at the “Parish Church of Saint Paul Shipwrecked” in Malta’s capital city of Valletta. It is also a day of processions and family get-togethers. Three things to do should you visit Malta, though hopefully not be shipwrecked there, on February 10th are:

MT