Though similarly celebrated with food, family, and friends, LatAm has some holidays that may be lesser known in the US. No matter when they fall, days of rest are important to everyone — so don’t expect timely email responses or perfect meeting attendance around these dates.
January 1 - New Year’s Day (All)
January 6 - Three Kings Day (Epiphany)
Marking the official end of Christmas celebrations, this Christian holiday involves giving gifts to children and attending local parades or festivals. In many LatAm countries, it’s less important to give gifts on this holiday than it is to have a huge asado (barbecue) with family and friends.
February 12-13 - Carnival (Argentina)
March 24 - Memorial Day (Argentina)
March 25 - St. Joseph’s Day (Colombia)
March 28 - Maundy Thursday (Uruguay, Chile, Argentina, Colombia)
April 2 - Day of the Veterans (Argentina)
April 21 - Tiradentes Day (Brazil)
Good Friday (Date varies)
This Christian holiday is always the Friday preceding Easter Sunday, the end of Holy Week. Observers of Lent may still be fasting and going without their favorite foods until Easter, so this day may be less indulgent for some, but others may celebrate with feasting and reenactments of Biblical events.
May 13 - Ascension (Colombia)
May 25 - May 1810 Revolution Day/National Day (Argentina)
June 3 - Corpus Christi (Colombia)
June 10 - Sacred Heart (Colombia)
June 17 - Commemoration of General Don Martín Miguel de Güemes (Argentina)
June 20 - Flag Day (Argentina)
June 29 - Feast of St. Peter and St. Paul (Argentina, Colombia, Chile)
May 1 - International Workers’ Day
Enormously popular worldwide, this holiday celebrates the working classes and promotes solidarity with all laborers. The unity at the heart of this holiday is promoted through parades, marches, and strong social connections.
Independence Day (Date varies)
The history of colonial rule and subsequent revolutions in LatAm is a long and storied one. Mostly governed at some point by the Spanish or Portuguese crown, each country in LatAm has its own fascinating history of rebellion and independence. Just like in the US, LatAm countries celebrate their independence with music, parades, and feasts. Here are the official Independence Days for LatAm countries with Howdy Houses:
July 9 (Argentina)
July 20 (Colombia)
August 25 (Uruguay)
September 7 (Brazil)
September 17-19 (Chile)
July 16 - Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Chile)
July 18 - Constitution Day (Uruguay)
August 7 - Battle of Boyacá Day (Colombia)
August 17 - San Martin Day (Argentina)
August 15/19 - Assumption of Mary (Chile/Colombia)
October 12 - Our Lady of Aparecida (Brazil)
October 12 - Día de la Raza (Day of the Race)
Once titled to celebrate the colonizer Columbus, the October holiday was renamed to honor the countries and people once conquered by European explorers. The holiday is also called “Respect for Cultural Diversity Day” in Argentina, “Day of Indigenous Resistance” in Venezuela, and “Day of the Encounter of Two Worlds” in Chile. It has become a day of historical reflection, honoring the events of the past by not shying away from the true history of colonialism.
November 1-2 - All Saints’ Day & Dia de Muertos
All Saints’ Day is a day of feasting and remembrance, originally commemorating Christian martyrs throughout history. LatAm has a significant Catholic population that, over time, blended the Christian holiday with an ancient pre-conquest holiday that honors the dead. Ancestors and loved ones are celebrated with parades, music, preparing favorite meals, and decorating gravesites with flowers.
November 11 - Independence of Cartagena (Colombia)
November 15 - Republic Proclamation Day (Brazil)
November 18 - National Sovereignty Day (Argentina)
November 20 - Black Awareness Day (Brazil)
December 8 - Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Colombia, Chile, Argentina)
December 24-25 - Christmas Eve & Christmas Day
The US more often than not celebrates Christmas on Christmas Day, but people in LatAm do most of their partying on Christmas Eve and use the next day to relax and recover.
Local Customs & Observances
It’s important to note that whenever holidays fall on mid-week days, local governments may declare “bridge holidays” that extend the observances by 1-2 days to promote tourism. Keep this in mind when coordinating and scheduling with your LatAm team members!
It may sound strange to US ears to hear about people enjoying cold food and ice cream for their Christmastime celebrations but remember that it’s summertime for our neighbors in the southern hemisphere. Take some time to talk to your LatAm team about their favorite holidays and traditions.
