Easter in Mexico: Traditions, Culture, Food, and Where to Celebrate

If you think this holiday is all about chocolate bunnies and pastel-colored eggs, think again. Easter in Mexico is sacred, dramatic, delicious, unforgettable—and lasts for two full weeks!

Next to Christmas, it's the most widely celebrated holiday in Mexico. Nearly 80% of Mexico's population identifies as Roman Catholic, and another 10% belong to other religious denominations. This strong religious foundation gives the season deep cultural and spiritual meaning.

For many, especially families, it's more than just a single Sunday. The celebration stretches across two weeks and often includes time off from school and work. Many businesses close, and it's common for Mexican-Americans to travel to Mexico to spend this time with family.

From candlelit processions to booming fireworks to beach vacations, this holiday is about devotion, community, and deep-rooted tradition.

How is Easter Celebrated in Mexico?

Semana Santa/Holy Week

Semana Santa, or Holy Week, begins on Palm Sunday (Domingo de Ramos) and lasts until Easter Sunday. Throughout the week, churches hold Masses (Misas), cities host meditative processions, and communities stage Passion Plays—dramatic reenactments of the final days of Jesus' life, including his trial, suffering, and crucifixion. These performances often draw large crowds and are central to seasonal rituals in many areas.

Palm Sunday (Domingo de Ramos)

The first day of Semana Santa, Domingo de Ramos, begins with large Catholic masses. Palm fronds are hand-woven into crosses and other arrangements and often brought to the altar to be blessed with holy water. These palm crosses, along with flowers and other religious decorations, fill the streets. In many cities, there are processions that reenact Jesus' arrival into Jerusalem, where an actor rides a donkey while people lay palm branches in his path as they move through the streets.

Maundy Thursday (Jueves Santo)

Jueves Santo commemorates the Last Supper and his arrest after being betrayed by Judas. Some Catholics visit and pray at seven different churches, symbolizing the seven places he visited from the time of his arrest to his crucifixion. From this day until Easter Sunday, church bells remain silent.

Good Friday (Viernes Santo)

On Viernes Santo, the day Jesus was crucified, many towns hold another procession, with statues of Christ and the Virgin Mary at the center. This day also features reenactments of the Passion Play in many towns.

Holy Saturday (Sábado de Gloria)

Sábado de Gloria mourns Christ's death. Statues of the Virgin Mary are dressed in black.

In other places, Sábado de Gloria is a quiet and reflective day, with fewer public events.

Semana de Pascua

The festivities don't stop on Easter Sunday, the first day of Semana de Pascua. Churches fill for Masses honoring the resurrection of Jesus and the days before his ascension into heaven. Bells, silent since Maundy Thursday, ring again. And afterwards, crowds spill into the streets and city centers to celebrate with music, food, and family.

Later in the evening, some communities burn cardboard or paper-mâché figures of Judas Iscariot in a tradition known as the "Burning of the Judases," as punishment for his betrayal.

Many families then head to the beach for a well-earned break after the solemnity of the previous week.

What are Traditional Easter Foods in Mexico?

During Semana Santa, dietary customs align with religious observances.

On Good Friday, meat is usually avoided, leading to creative seafood dishes such as pescado a la veracruzana (fish in a tomato-olive sauce) and capirotada (a bread pudding with cinnamon, cheese, and syrup). Street vendors gather outside churches offering tostadas de mariscos (seafood), empanadas de camarónes (shrimp), and aguas frescas (fresh water).

Other popular dishes include bacalao (salted cod stew), chiles rellenos, and tamales (for every occasion!).

How to Say "Happy Easter" in Spanish

Sharing a holiday greeting? Just say, "¡Felices Pascuas!" or impress the locals with "¡Feliz Semana Santa!"

Where to Experience Easter in Mexico?

Across Mexico, Holy Week is marked in ways that range from reflective to dramatic. Each place brings its own history and character to the season, offering meaningful experiences that go far beyond church walls.

Chihuahua

In the state of Chihuahua, the Tarahumara (Rarámuri) indigenous peoples have preserved their rituals for nearly 400 years. All Semana Santa activities are centered around the conflict between good and evil. Everyone in the community takes part—there are no spectators. Through processions, dancing, and ritual, they express their dependence on God and their connection to centuries-old beliefs.

Cholula

In the small town of Cholula, Puebla, the streets come alive with intricate tapestries made from sand and flower petals. These detailed designs are carefully laid out in the town square before a large religious procession passes through, walking directly over the vibrant artwork as part of the ritual.

Iztapalapa

The largest Mexican Passion Play takes place in Iztapalapa, south of Mexico City, and is called "Via Crucis (The Way of the Cross)." First performed in 1843, the event features a volunteer portraying Christ. He carries a large wooden cross through the streets for over a mile. Thousands of residents take part, and the event attracts nearly a million people every year.

San Luis Potosi

The "Procession of the Silence" in San Luis Potosi is a deeply moving tradition that began in 1954. As night falls on Good Friday, hooded participants march through the cobblestone streets, carrying platforms with images of the Virgin Mary and scenes from the Passion of Christ. The only sounds are slow drumbeats and the call of bugles. Spectators line the streets in silence, creating a powerful atmosphere of mourning and reflection.

San Miguel Allende

In San Miguel de Allende, Holy Week ends with a loud and fiery custom known as the Burning of the Judases. This custom, dating back to Spanish colonial times, features giant paper-mâché Judas figures, painted to resemble disliked social and political figures. On Easter Sunday, the figures are "sentenced," hung in public spaces, and then blown apart with fireworks.

Taxco

Dating back to the 1600s, Taxco's festivities include dramatic processions where men carry thorny branches, drag chains, or whip their backs as acts of sacrifice and devotion. On Good Friday, the "Procession of the Three Falls" portrays Jesus carrying the cross through the streets. The week ends with a quiet Holy Saturday and a joyful Easter Mass. Visitors from around the world come to witness the town's unique and immersive expression of faith and culture.

Other places with notable Holy Week events include Copper Canyon, Huatulco, Mexico City, Oaxaca City, and Querétaro.

Planning Your Visit

Travel in Mexico this time of year rivals Christmas and Day of the Dead, with high hotel prices and beaches teeming with vacationers. It's advisable to make reservations well in advance—whether for a beachfront cabana or a plate of the best food of the season, demand is high.

Easter in Mexico is a multifaceted occasion that weaves together religious traditions, community festivities, and lots of food—offering both sacred moments and bold cultural expressions. Spanning two full weeks, it's the country's biggest celebration next to Christmas. Just be sure to plan ahead—because it doesn't just fill calendars—it fills cities.