Benito Juárez’s Birthday Memorial
Benito Juárez’s Birthday Memorial is a holiday that’s observed on the third Monday in March and commemorates the date when Benito Juárez was born. He is known by many people in Mexico as a reformer who fought for and is dedicated to the concept of democracy. He was born on March 21, 1806, as an indigenous Zapotec who would become orphaned at the age of 4-years old.
When he was 13-years old, he moved to Oaxaca City, learned how to read and write Spanish, and then studied law. He would eventually become the 26th President of Mexico and held office from 1858 through 1872.
The History Of Benito Juárez’s Birthday Memorial
When Benito Juárez was elected President of Mexico, he worked to reduce the Catholic Church’s influence on Mexico’s politics and fought on behalf of the indigenous population. He also worked to establish democracy in the country. And he managed to do this while living and working in one of the most chaotic periods of Mexican history.
Facts About Mexico
Below are some facts about Mexico that we’d like to share with everyone learning about this holiday. The following are interesting facts that we’ve learned about Mexico.
- The Pyramid of Cholula is the largest pyramid in the world. It has a 400-meter base, rises 66-meters high, and has 4.5 million cubic meters of volume.
- There are 69 languages spoken in Mexico—68 of them are indigenous languages.
- Mexico consumes 163 liters of Coca-Cola per person per year. That’s more than even what the average American consumes.
Observing Benito Juárez’s Birthday Memorial
Since this day is a federal public holiday in Mexico, many institutions close on this day including banks, schools, and government offices. It’s also a day on which many businesses are closed and public transportation might be operated on a holiday schedule.