Mexican Revolution Day (November 20): History & Traditions

Revolution Day (Día de la Revolución) commemorates the start of the Mexican Revolution on November 20, 1910 — a ten-year upheaval that overthrew the long dictatorship of Porfirio Díaz and gave Mexico its 1917 Constitution. Since 2006, the official day off is the third Monday of November, while the anniversary itself remains November 20.

Summary
Commemoration	November 20
Official holiday	Third Monday of November
Year	1910
Started by	Francisco I. Madero’s Plan of San Luis Potosí
Key figures	Madero, Emiliano Zapata, Pancho Villa, Venustiano Carranza, Álvaro Obregón
Major outcome	Constitution of 1917
Symbol	Monumento a la Revolución, Mexico City

Why the Revolution Began

Porfirio Díaz ruled Mexico for more than 30 years (the “Porfiriato”). Railways and industry grew, but land and wealth were concentrated in the hands of a few, while most peasants owned nothing and workers had few rights. When Díaz claimed victory in the 1910 election after jailing his rival Francisco I. Madero, Madero escaped and issued the Plan of San Luis Potosí, calling on Mexicans to rise up at 6 p.m. on November 20, 1910.

Timeline of the Mexican Revolution

Year	Event
1910	Uprising begins on November 20
1911	Díaz resigns and leaves for exile; Madero becomes President
1911	Zapata proclaims the Plan of Ayala demanding land reform
1913	Madero is overthrown and killed; Victoriano Huerta seizes power
1914	Huerta is defeated by revolutionary armies
1914–1915	Civil war between Carranza and the armies of Villa and Zapata
February 5, 1917	New Constitution adopted
1919–1920	Zapata is assassinated; Carranza falls; the armed phase ends

“La tierra es de quien la trabaja” — “The land belongs to those who work it.” A slogan associated with Emiliano Zapata and the agrarian struggle.

Legacy: The 1917 Constitution

• Land reform and communal lands (ejidos) for peasants
• Workers’ rights — eight-hour day, right to strike, minimum wage
• National ownership of subsoil resources such as oil
• Free, secular public education
• One term limit for the President (“no reelection”)

How Mexico Celebrates

• Desfile deportivo — a sports and military parade in Mexico City’s Zócalo, with athletes, horse riders and costumed “revolucionarios”.
• School events where children dress as Adelitas (women soldiers) and revolutionaries.
• Corridos — revolutionary ballads such as “La Adelita” and “La Cucaracha”.
• Long weekend and the famous “Buen Fin” shopping event, Mexico’s version of Black Friday.

👉 Mexican traditions: Day of the Dead

👉 Coming in December: Our Lady of Guadalupe Day — December 12

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