Royal, civic and national ceremonyNorth AmericaSecular and civic
Mexican Revolution Day
In its own language: Día de la Revolución Mexicana
A Mexican civic holiday marking the 1910 uprising with parades and public ceremonies
Mexican Revolution Day is an annual public holiday across Mexico that marks the start of the 1910 uprising against dictator Porfirio Díaz. Observed on the third Monday of November, the occasion is marked by civil, military, and athletic parades in major cities and historic town squares.
When is Mexican Revolution Day kept?
Mexican Revolution Day is kept on annually on the third Monday of November.
Mexican Revolution Day is a civic holiday celebrated throughout Mexico each November. It commemorates the historic 1910 rebellion launched by Francisco I. Madero to remove Porfirio Díaz after more than three decades of rule. As one of the country's official patriotic celebrations, or Fiestas Patrias, the date honours the origins of modern constitutional reforms. Communities mark the day with civic gatherings, school events, and large public parades.
Origins and history
The roots of the observance go back to the presidential election of 1910. After liberal candidate Francisco I. Madero challenged the long rule of Porfirio Díaz, the authorities imprisoned him. Madero escaped and issued the Plan of San Luis Potosí, calling on the Mexican public to rise in revolt on 20 November 1910. The resulting conflict led to the downfall of Díaz and prompted profound social transformations. These changes were codified in the 1917 Constitution, which introduced term limits for elected officials and established major labour rights, including an eight-hour working day, the end of child labour, and equal pay protections.
Parades and civic ceremonies
Public processions stand at the centre of the commemoration. For decades, the largest national event took place in the capital at the main square, the Zócalo, featuring civil, military, and athletic participants. Schoolchildren also take part in local celebrations, often singing popular revolutionary songs like La Cucaracha. State capitals and regional cities hold their own street parades. Although national gatherings shifted to locations like Campo Marte in certain years due to protests and civic crises, the full civil, military, and athletic procession through central Mexico City was restored in 2019.
Changes to the calendar
For most of its history, the holiday fell strictly on 20 November. If the date landed on a Tuesday or Thursday, schools frequently arranged extended weekend breaks. In 2005, federal labour law was updated to shift the official day off to the third Monday of November, taking effect in 2006. This reform created a regular three-day weekend for workers and students across the country, though 20 November remains the historical anniversary of Madero's initial call to arms.
How Mexican Revolution Day is kept
On Mexican Revolution Day, cities and towns host public processions that bring together military units, civil servants, and athletes. In central Mexico City, large parades march through major public spaces, while regional capitals organise local marches. Schools and youth groups participate in civic activities and sing traditional anthems from the revolutionary era. Because the official holiday is set on a Monday, families across the country use the long weekend for public gatherings and leisure.
When and where
The historical anniversary is 20 November, the exact date in 1910 when the uprising was declared. Under federal labour law established in 2005 and enacted in 2006, the official statutory holiday is observed every year on the third Monday of November.
The holiday is observed nationwide across Mexico. National events and major parades take place in Mexico City, including historic venues like the Zócalo and Campo Marte, alongside regional processions held in state capitals and towns throughout the republic.
What Mexican Revolution Day means
The day honours the struggle for democracy, fairness, and workers' rights that shaped 20th-century Mexico. It recalls Francisco I. Madero's call to overthrow dictatorship and regain constitutional freedoms. The observance also celebrates the social achievements of the 1917 Constitution, representing national pride in labor protections such as standard working hours, fair compensation, and the prevention of child labor.
Questions people ask about Mexican Revolution Day
When is Mexican Revolution Day kept?
Mexican Revolution Day is kept on annually on the third Monday of November.
What is Mexican Revolution Day?
It is an official Mexican national holiday commemorating the beginning of the 1910 revolution against the regime of Porfirio Díaz. As one of Mexico's patriotic holidays, it celebrates the historic uprising that led to major democratic and labor reforms.
How do people celebrate the day across Mexico?
Celebrations feature civil, military, and athletic parades in major cities, along with civic ceremonies and school performances. The largest official procession takes place in Mexico City, while state capitals host local community parades.
What reforms came out of the Mexican Revolution?
The revolution led to the 1917 Constitution, which set strict limits on political terms in office. It also established key worker protections, including an eight-hour working day, the abolition of child labor, and equal pay standards.
See also
Mexican Independence DayAn annual Mexican national holiday marking the 1810 uprising against Spanish rule
Day of the DeadA Mexican remembrance of deceased family and friends with altars, marigolds and feasts
Our Lady of GuadalupeA Marian apparition to Juan Diego in Mexico City in December 1531, celebrated on December 12.
TapasSmall Spanish snacks or appetizers served hot or cold, often shared among friends.Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Revolution Day (Mexico)", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryParampara rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. Traditions differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-04.
More from Mexico
All the traditions of Mexico
🇲🇽 Mexico City, MexicoMexican Independence DayDía de la Independencia de México
An annual Mexican national holiday marking the 1810 uprising against Spanish ruleCeremony
🇲🇽 Puebla, Mexico and 1 moreCinco de Mayo
May 5 observance honoring the 1862 Mexican victory over French troops near Puebla.Ceremony
🇺🇸 United States and 5 moreNational day of mourning
A day a government sets aside for national grief, often marked by flags at half-mastCeremony
🇮🇪 Ireland and 5 moreHalloween
An annual observance on 31 October marking the eve of All Saints' Day, rooted in Christian tradition and Celtic heritageFestival · Sweets given and shared
The same idea elsewhere
All of this kind
🇬🇷 Olympia, Greece and 1 moreOlympic torch relay
The ceremonial journey of the flame from Olympia to each host city of the Olympic GamesCeremony
🇮🇳 Kolkata, IndiaJana Gana Mana
India's national anthem, from a Bengali hymn of 1911, sung at civic occasionsCeremony
🇵🇱 Auschwitz-Birkenau, Poland and 1 moreMarch of the LivingMarsz Żywych (Polish) · מצעד החיים (Hebrew)
An annual two-week journey to Poland ending in a silent walk from Auschwitz to BirkenauCeremony
🇳🇴 Bergen, NorwayBuekorps
Youth marching groups of Bergen's neighbourhoods, with drums, banners and a May paradeCeremony