JAN 1: New Year’s Day (Año Nuevo)–Nationwide. Mexico rings in the New Year with celebrations featuring music, dance, food and fireworks. Streets are filled with revelers, and friends and families congregate for parties that often last till dawn. One tradition calls for eating twelve grapes, one with each stroke of the chiming bell at midnight, for luck during the next 12 months.

JAN 5-22: 2nd Merida International Art Festival “Merida Cultural City”(2do Festival Internacional de las Artes “Merida Capital Cultural”)–Merida, Yucatan. In celebration of the city’s founding more than 464 years ago, this festival features music, dance, poetry readings, photography exhibitions as well as films and exhibits of local and international artist. http://www.merida.gob.mx/festival/

JAN 6: Three Kings’ Day (Dia de los Santos Reyes)–Nationwide. The Feast of the Epiphany recalls the arrival in Bethlehem of the three wise men (reyes magos) bearing gifts for baby Jesus. This is the day of traditional gift-giving for children in the central and southern regions of Mexico. Rosca de Reyes, a crown-shaped sweet bread decorated with candied fruits with a small doll baked inside, is served on this day. Whoever is lucky enough to find the figure in his slice of bread must host a party on February 2, Candlemas Day, offering tamales (stuffed cornflour cakes wrapped in corn husks or banana leaves) and atole (a hot, sweet drink thickened with corn flour) to the guests.

JAN 14 – FEB 8: Leon State Fair—Leon, Guanajuato. Leon City, located just 45 minutes outside of Guanajuato, hosts this annual fair which features concerts, dance, food and much more. Some of the highlights for this year’s fair is Robert´s International Circus, The traditional Palenques, Dolphins exhibition and more. http://www.ferialeon.org/ or info@ferialeon.org

JAN 15-23: St. Sebastian Fiesta (Fiesta de San Sebastian el Martir)–Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas. This fiesta is famous for its “Parachicos” tour, which features a dancing procession from San Jacinto church throught Santo Domingo church back and fordward, ending in a delectable food festival featuring traditional dishes such as “Pepita con Tasajo” made of beef in a creamy pumpkin seed sauce. On the night of the 21st, a traditional nautical battle takes place on the Grijalva River which concludes in a spectacle of fireworks.

JAN 17: Feast Day of de San Antonio de Abad. Is a religious holiday during which the Catholic Church allows animals to enter the church for blessing.

JAN 28: The Rural Tourism Fair—Oaxaca, Mexico. The sixth such regional event co-created by Amigos del Sol and Planeta.com in Oaxaca City, Mexico. This alternative to traditional mass tourism allows travelers to visit rural areas. Options include hiking and biking,visiting community museums and buying crafts. Mexico considers rural tourism a critical feature in its promotion of travel alternatives, including adventure travel and ecotourism. For more information visit: http://www.planeta.com/ecotravel/mexico/oaxaca/feriarural2006.html