Constitution Day, Mexico

Traditionally Mexico has celebrated the anniversary of its constitution on February 5th every year, however current Mexican labor law, effective 2006, now establishes that the Mexican Constitution be honored as an official holiday on the first Monday of February, regardless of the actual date.  It is one of Mexico’s Fiestas Patrias or Patriotic Holidays.

Mexico has had several constitutions during the course of history since its independence from Spain in 1810.  These are the Constitution of 1824, the Constitution of 1857 and the Constitution of 1917, which is currently in effect.  It was drafted during the Mexican Revolution (1910-1921) and officially adopted as the Mexican Constitution on February 5th, 1917.

Article 1 deals with the rights of the individual to personal freedom and forbids the practices of slavery and personal discrimination.

Article 2 establishes Mexico as a unique and indivisible nation and enforces the preservation of it’s multicultural heritage.

Article 3 establishes the right of equal and unbiased education for all.

Amongst the further articles of the Mexican Constitution figure the establishment of equality for all under the laws of the land; freedom of expression, speech and the press; the right of citizens to petition in a peaceful manner and exercise freedom of assembly;  freedom of religion, the prohibition of monopolies; the protection of the rights of workers; the separation of church and state.

A full index of the constitution (in Spanish) can be found at http://www.tlahui.com/conmx0.htm

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Originally posted 2010-01-08 14:21:55.