Traditions of Mexico City
A vast capital built on an Aztec lake, where the Day of the Dead parade, the Virgin of Guadalupe and a street food world meet.
Mexico City was founded as Tenochtitlan in 1325 and is among the largest cities in the world. Its calendar combines Aztec, Catholic and modern traditions: the Virgin of Guadalupe pilgrimage in December, the Independence cry on 15 September, and the Day of the Dead.
Guadalupe and the dead
On 12 December, millions of pilgrims arrive at the Basilica of Guadalupe, many on foot, to honour the Virgin. For the Day of the Dead, ofrendas are built, and calaveras, sugar skulls, are sold in markets. On 15 September, the president rings a bell and shouts the Grito de Dolores to start the independence festival.
At the table
Tacos al pastor, tamales, pozole, chilaquiles for breakfast, and elote with chilli and lime are daily food. Pan de muerto is baked for the Day of the Dead, and rosca de reyes on 6 January. Atole, a warm corn drink, and hot chocolate are served in winter.
Signature traditions of Mexico City
Also part of it, and being written: Taco al pastor (The taco.), Pan de muerto (The bread.), Grito de Dolores (The cry.).
A trail idea for Mexico City
- Mercado de San Juan See exotic foods.
- Xochimilco Ride a trajinera.
- Zócalo See the festivities.
Written by the EveryParampara desk with AI assistance. Opening hours, markets and festival dates change; check locally before travelling. Customs differ from place to place and family to family. If this is your tradition and we have it wrong, tell us.
🇲🇽 Mexico City, Mexico and 1 moreDay of the DeadDía de Muertos
A Mexican remembrance of deceased family and friends with altars, marigolds and feastsFestival · Sweets given and shared
🇲🇽 San Salvador Huixcolotla, Mexico and 1 morePapel picado
A Mexican folk art of cutting intricate designs into tissue paper for festive and spiritual displays.Festival
🇪🇸 Ronda, Spain and 5 moreBullfightingCorrida de toros
A ritual contest between a bullfighter and a bull, kept in Spain and Latin AmericaGame
🇲🇽 Mexico City, Mexico and 1 moreOur Lady of GuadalupeNuestra Señora de Guadalupe
A Marian apparition to Juan Diego in Mexico City in December 1531, celebrated on December 12.Spiritual
🇲🇽 Guadalajara, Mexico and 1 moreMariachi
A Mexican string and trumpet music tradition featuring charro attire and communal singing.Performance
🇲🇽 Mexico City, MexicoMexican Independence DayDía de la Independencia de México
An annual Mexican national holiday marking the 1810 uprising against Spanish ruleCeremony
🇲🇽 Mexico and 7 moreLas Posadas
A nine-night Christmas pageant remembering Mary and Joseph seeking shelterSpiritual · Feasts and festival meals
🇲🇽 Guadalajara, MexicoMexican hat danceJarabe tapatío
Mexico's national courtship dance, in which a dancer's steps circle the brim of a hatPerformance
🇲🇽 Tijuana, Mexico and 1 moreBirria
A rich, seasoned meat stew from western Mexico, cooked for gatherings and holidaysTable custom · Feasts and festival meals
🇲🇽 Mexico City, MexicoPassion Play of Iztapalapa
A community passion play staged across Iztapalapa during Holy WeekSpiritual
🇲🇽 Mexico City, MexicoMexican Revolution DayDía de la Revolución Mexicana
A Mexican civic holiday marking the 1910 uprising with parades and public ceremoniesCeremony
🇲🇽 Acolman, Mexico and 1 morePiñata
A festive decorated container broken open with a stick to scatter treats and fruitFestival
🇲🇽 Oaxaca, Mexico and 1 moreGuelaguetza
An annual Oaxacan festival of indigenous dance, music, costumes and communal sharingFestival
🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreNational day of mourning
A day a government sets aside for national grief, often marked by flags at half-mastCeremony
🇲🇽 Veracruz, Mexico and 3 moreBaile folklórico
Staged folk dances of Mexico and Central America, with regional dress and mariachi musicPerformance
🇲🇽 Mexico City, MexicoOfrenda
A home altar of food, flowers and candles that welcomes the dead home at Día de MuertosSpiritual
Photo credits on this page
The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.
- Our Lady of Guadalupe: Sebastian Wallroth, CC BY 3.0, source
- Mariachi: Elidealista, CC0, source
- Mexican Independence Day: PetrohsW, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Las Posadas: Yavidaxiu, CC BY 3.0, source
- Mexican hat dance: Salvador alc, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Birria: Equipo 9mkt, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Passion Play of Iztapalapa: Eneas De Troya, CC BY 2.0, source
- Mexican Revolution Day: Ute Hagen, CC BY 2.0, source
- Piñata: No machine-readable author provided. JEDIKNIGHT1970 assumed (based on, Public domain, source
- Guelaguetza: A01321718, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Papel picado: Ferfive, CC BY 4.0, source
- Bullfighting: No machine-readable author provided. Manuel González Olaechea assumed, CC BY 3.0, source
- National day of mourning: Dudzislaw, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Baile folklórico: AlejandroLinaresGarcia, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Ofrenda: Eneas de Troya, CC BY 2.0, source
- Day of the Dead: RubeHM, CC BY-SA 4.0, source