10 Hispanic holidays & traditions to celebrate every year
Gather with friends and family to celebrate these 10 annual Hispanic holidays and traditions in Nevada.
The Silver State’s Hispanic community has reason to celebrate all year long.
Almost every month of the calendar is packed with Hispanic fiestas and special occasions. Whether cultural, religious, seasonal, annual, or just because, Hispanic and Latin celebrations typically unite families and friends for food, fun, entertainment, music, and dance.
From honoring the dead to celebrating a young woman’s coming of age, here are 10 Hispanic holidays and traditions to celebrate in Nevada every year.
1. Epiphany (Three Kings Day)
January 6
Epiphany, or Three Kings Day, concludes the 12 Days of Christmas. Biblically, it marks the day the three wise men (Los Reyes Magos) met baby Jesus and welcomed him with gifts. On Three Kings Day, children get presents and families eat King’s Cake (Rosca de Reyes), which is an oval bread with a baby Jesus doll baked inside. The person who finds the doll is tasked with making tamales for Dia de la Candelaria on February 2. In Latin America and Spain, children leave out their shoes for the three wise men in return for gifts. They usually score on gifts, receiving more on Three Kings Day than on Christmas.
2. Dia de la Candelaria
February 2
Dia de la Candelaria, or Candlemas, commemorates when Mary and Joseph presented Jesus at the temple in Jerusalem. It is celebrated with special church services where candles are lit in his honor. People also eat the tamales made by those who found the baby Jesus doll on Three Kings Day. Though it isn’t a huge deal in Mexico, some parts do celebrate. For instance, bull runs and feasts take over the Gulf town of Tlacotalpan. The city of San Juan de los Lagos in Jalisco, home to the second-most visited pilgrimage site in Mexico, celebrates all week.
3. Fiesta de San Juan (Feast of Saint John)
June 23-24
This lively celebration of light and renewal takes place during the summer solstice. Christian traditions are mixed with ancient pagan rituals, creating a unique and significant cultural celebration. Whether on a beach or in a public square, people light and jump over bonfires to symbolize the power of the sun. It’s a joyful gathering with traditional music, dancing, food, and drinks.
4. Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
November 1 & 2
A festive celebration of the dead, Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) is a colorful and joyful holiday deeply rooted in Latin American culture. Families and friends build altars adorned with flowers and photos to honor the life of their deceased loved ones. Some meet at cemeteries or attend upbeat cultural events filled with food, entertainment, and traditional music, such as the annual festivals at the Springs Preserve in Las Vegas and the Nevada State Museum in Carson City.
5. Our Lady of Guadalupe
December 12
When the Virgin Mary appeared to Saint Juan Diego in Tepeyac in 1531, she was nicknamed the Virgin Mary of Guadalupe. Catholic Mexicans and other Hispanics worldwide, including in the United States, celebrate this day by attending mass with prayers, songs, and dances in honor of the Virgin. Afterward, celebrations with traditional food and dance commence.
6. Las Posadas
December 16-24
Based on the story of Mary, Joseph, and the birth of Jesus, Las Posadas is celebrated across Mexico and the United States. A child dressed as an angel leads a procession of children through town as they carry lit candles and images of Mary and Joseph on a donkey. The children are followed by musicians and other adults who visit homes to seek lodging for Joseph and Mary. Though they are always refused, they receive food and drinks, read scripture, and sing Christmas carols. Mass takes place after the procession and is typically followed by a party with star-shaped piñatas full of candy, toys, and money.
7. Quinceañera
Year-round
When a Catholic girl turns 15, she marks her passage into womanhood with a celebration fit for royalty. A quinceañera includes Mass and a huge party where the celebrant dances with her father of boyfriend. Picking the right dress for this traditional coming-of-age celebration is as personal and involved as choosing a wedding gown (and often just as expensive). These full-length ball gowns are often colorful, textured, and extravagant— (reminiscent of a princess in a fairytale.
8. Piñatas
Year-round
Once a symbol of Satan, piñatas are far more innocuous now. The papier-mâché containers get filled with candy and treats for attendees at birthday parties, first communions, baptisms, and other celebrations. Piñatas of the 13th century were balls with seven cones, each representing the seven deadly sins: pride, greed, sloth, gluttony, lust, envy, and wrath. Now, this party game comes in all sizes and shapes, including popular cartoon characters and traditional forms. Just hit the piñata with a stick while blindfolded to set the candy free.
9. Las Mañanitas
Year-round
A traditional Mexican birthday song written by Mexican composer Alfonso Esparza Oteo, “Las Mañanitas” is sung as a way to wake someone up on the morning of their birthday. The words “mi bien” are replaced with the name of the birthday girl or boy. There are many versions, including a popular mariachi one. It is also sometimes sung on All Saints’ Day, Mother’s Day, the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and other holidays.
10. Mariachi
Year-round
A traditional Mexican folk music genre dating back to the 18th century, mariachi music has grown from rural, regional music into an urban sensation and a representation of Mexican culture in the U.S. Not only is it played on radio stations, but the United States military has an official mariachi band. Many public schools and colleges, including the University of Nevada Reno and the University of Nevada Las Vegas, have mariachi bands. Combining bass and string instruments, lively singing, and elaborate costumes, mariachi ensembles are often hired to play at restaurants and parties.
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