Important
celebrations and festivities in Valle de Bravo Mexico is a celebration
country and
Valle de Bravo can't hang back. Share with our friendly people the color and ambience of
our traditions and holidays.
- New
Year (January 1st) Valle de Bravo recives many visitors for this
holiday, willing to enjoy the new year's eve in such a wonderful place.
It is highly
recommended to book your reservations in advance if you will be needing
a hotel room. Families and friends gather together for a latte supper,
some light a bonfire on the sidewalks all over the town, you will see fire
works blasting everywhere at midnight, and churches’ bells ringing
at the same time. Mostly every marine or nautic club, and restaurants
give
parties. You will have lots of choices to select a place.
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- Epiphany
(twelfth night)(January 6) In Mexico, and in Valle de Bravo we celebrate
this day, with presents for the kids, that the three wise men bring to
every home, the night before. We also, have a "Merienda" hot
chocolate and a special bun "Rosca de Reyes" that is baked
only for this special day, you will see lots of women selling them in the
main square and bakeries. You can chose between buns baked on traditional
wood ovens, vanilla, or orange flavor. The bun has inside small Baby Jesus
plastic image. If you get it in your piece of bread, you will have to give
a party to every one on February 2nd.
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- Candlemas
Day(February 2nd) this celebration is held mainly in the Otumba’s
neighbor, where the majordomos organize the festivity with a novena. During
9 days a regional fair is settled in front of the church, where you can
find typical food, art crafts, and games, specially on the 1st and 2nd
of February.
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- Easter
(March-April) People get together to pray the “Via Crucis” in
a different neighborhood every day, they walk through white and purple
decorated streets, houses and stores, That shows the route of the Pious
Via. On Good Friday a representation of the passion and death of our Lord
is held after a peregrination through the town.
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 The
Holly Cross (May 3th.) Better known in Valle de bravo as St. Mary’s
fair, since it is held in the neighborhood of this name, where they worship
the Black Christ. The majordomos organize a novena, and a special celebration
the last day (may 3), with dances, peregrination and fire works at night.
The traditional fod on this day is “mole” spicy hot sauce red
or green, served on rice or chicken, you will find it every where in any
of the various food stands on the street.
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- Independence
Day Eve (September 15) The Mayor is in charge of “Dar el Grito” ,
he pronounces the word with which Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla harangue the
people to star the war against Spain. At 12:00 o’clock during a verbena
in the main square. Afterwards you can see a firework show held in the
same place.
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 Independence Day Parade (September 16th). This parade is leaded by the Mayor
and his closest collaborators, followed by the town council institutions
and schools from kindergarten to college students. Of course the “Charros” close
the parade. The audiece are all the parents and relatives of those who parade
and tourists.
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 Patron Saint Francis
of Asis (October 4th ). Saint Francis is the saint patron of Valle de Bravo.
The fest stars early in the morning with a special singed salute (las mañanitas)
in the church at 6:00 am. Around 11:00 o’clock a traditional parade
is done in the main square and through some main streets, people from all
the small hamlet and surrounding towns, come to Valle on that day along with
their ox team all decorated with flowers. Dancing groups parade along too.
At night a typical vervain takes place in the main square
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 Día de Muertos (2 de November
1st and 2nd) Valle dresses up in yellows and oranges
for this special celebration, in fact the hole country does. People
from all the
nearby towns around, come to Valle de Bravo at least a couple of
days ahead to sell their cempasúchil flowers and other products,
first in the market and afterwards directly in both grave yards.
The love and endeavor that people gives to their special altars
is reflected in an explosion of color, flavors and fragrances in
the cemeteries, this gives a festive touch to the All Saints Day,
some of this altars are master pieces. You can also visit altars
in the churches, galleries, and museums. In this day the children
in costumes walk through the town asking for their “calaverita” (a
skull made of chocolate or sugar), some give them candy as in Halloween.
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- Foundation
of Valle de Bravo (November 15) A civic act takes place in the main square,
some schools and institution participate in the ceremony, headed by the
city mayor.
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- Our
Lady of Guadalupe Festivities. (december 1-12) During this days believers
and devoted people from Valle and from other towns make pilgrimage to the
chapel of our lady of Guadalupe. On the 12 the day starts early in the
morning, a great number of persons sing “las Mañanitas” to
Our Lady, and pray the rosary, during the day they celebrate mass, and
at night there is a firework show. During the hole day a kermes is settled
in the streets around the church, with food, games, and local art crafts.
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- "Posadas"
(16 de diciembre al 24 de diciembre) The catholic tradition in Mexico,
for
this period of time is to remember with prayers, procession and of course
piñatas and food, the difficulties that the Holy Family had to find
a place where Jesus Christ could born in Bethlehem. A Posada is celebrated
in a different neighborhood every day, the neighbors decorate the facades
of their houses and streets, you will be welcome to join a procession and
a posada where ever you see one.
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- Christmas
(24 de diciembre) The last Posada takes place on this night, and
Baby Jesus is put to bed and lulled with Christmas carols, and lullabies.
Some families light bonfires on the sidewalks, and gather with their neighbors.
Some assist to a midnight special mass in church, and afterwards they have
their christmas dinner. In Mexico we also have the tradition of Santa Claus
bringing gifts to the children.
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