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Day of Race 2024 in Mexico

Many Mexicans observe October 12 as Columbus Day, or Day of the Race (Día de la Raza) in remembrance of when Christopher Columbus came to the Americas.

Is Day of Race a Public Holiday?

Even though Day of Race falls on Saturday, October 12, 2024, it is a working day. Most businesses follow regular opening hours in Mexico.

Christopher Columbus sailed 4 voyages to the Americas.

©iStockphoto.com/Lya_Cattel

Celebrate Columbus Day

Columbus Day is viewed as a celebration of Hispanic heritage for Mexicans who celebrate it. However, it has also been a day chosen for protests, rallies and street marches in past years.

Public Life

Columbus Day is an observance and not a statutory federal holiday in Mexico.

About Columbus Day

Columbus Day commemorates when Italian explorer Christopher Columbus (Cristóbal Colón in Spanish) landed on an island in the Bahamas on October 12, 1492. He was not the first person to discover the Americas but he established contact between Renaissance Europe and the indigenous peoples he encountered. With support from the Spanish monarchy, he completed four voyages that eventually instigated the Spanish colonization of the New World (eg. the Americas). Columbus Day has raised not just praise but also skepticism, as it serves as a reminder of conflicts that arose later between Spanish conquerors and indigenous peoples.

Did You Know?

Pope Leo XIII rejected a proposal for Columbus’ sainthood. It is believed that the proposal was turned down because Columbus had an illegitimate son.

Day of Race Observances

YearWeekdayDateNameHoliday Type
2019SatOct 12Day of RaceObservance
2020MonOct 12Day of RaceObservance
2021TueOct 12Day of RaceObservance
2022WedOct 12Day of RaceObservance
2023ThuOct 12Day of RaceObservance
2024SatOct 12Day of RaceObservance
2025SunOct 12Day of RaceObservance
2026MonOct 12Day of RaceObservance
2027TueOct 12Day of RaceObservance
2028ThuOct 12Day of RaceObservance
2029FriOct 12Day of RaceObservance

While we diligently research and update our holiday dates, some of the information in the table above may be preliminary. If you find an error, please let us know.