Also worth keeping in mind is that there are a total of 11 bank holidays (which includes the official public holidays) that will occur in the upcoming year.

According to Mexico’s Federal Labor Law, on the seven official holidays of 2025, employees required to work must receive double-time pay, or 100% overtime pay. 

Mexico’s official national holidays are as follows (with the actual date of the holiday in parentheses where appropriate):

• Wednesday, Jan. 1: New Year’s Day 
• Monday, Feb. 3: Constitution Day, observed (actual date: Feb. 5)
• Monday, March 17:  Benito Juárez’s birthday, observed (actual date: March 21)
• Thursday, May 1: Labor Day, or Worker’s Day, as it’s named in Mexico
• Tuesday, Sept. 16: Independence Day
• Monday, Nov. 17: Mexican Revolution Day, observed (actual date: Nov. 20)
• Thursday, Dec. 25: Christmas Day

Although some people might think that May 5, or Cinco de Mayo, is an official holiday in Mexico, that is not the case. 

Although Mexico’s victory over France’s invading forces at the 1862 Battle of Puebla is celebrated and public schools are closed nationwide on May 5, only the state of Puebla and its neighbor state, Veracruz, observe Cinco de Mayo as an official holiday.

Some might recall that there were nine official holidays in 2024. Those extra two days were linked to the federal election cycle, which occurs every six years. 

June 2, 2024, was Election Day, on which the president and both houses of Congress were elected. Although Election Day in Mexico is always on Sunday, it was declared an official holiday.

And earlier this year, Congress declared Oct. 1, 2024, to be a national holiday — Inauguration Day. The law establishes that every six years (presidents serve six-year terms in Mexico), Oct. 1 will be an official public holiday. Prior to 2024, presidents were sworn in on Dec. 1 and Inauguration Day was celebrated every six years on that date.

New holidays coming in 2025?

The newspaper El Financiero reported that there could be two new additional public holidays approved for 2025. Congress is considering making Dec. 12, the Catholic feast day of the Virgin of Guadalupe.

The shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe in Mexico City is the most visited Catholic pilgrimage destination in the world

Congress also might declare June 1 a holiday as well — but only for this year: Mexico holds its first-ever nationwide election of judges and magistrates on Sunday, June 1, 2025. 

In addition to the seven official public holidays, Mexico’s banks, currency exchanges and financial markets observe four other holidays.

• April 17: Holy Thursday
• April 18:Good Friday 
• Nov. 3: Day of the Dead (although this falls on a Sunday in 2025) 
• Dec. 12: Virgin of Guadalupe feast day 

With reports from El Financiero, Debate and TV Azteca

The post Mark your calendar: Here are all the 2025 Mexican public holidays appeared first on Mexico News Daily

From rounding up the best of Mexican memes to curing hangovers or teaching us all how to curse appropriately, Sarah has worked tirelessly to bring MND readers closer to life as a real Mexican. If a real Mexican was born in Texas, that is.

So sit back, get ready to laugh and enjoy some of the best slice-of-life pieces we published in 2024.

How to spot a foreigner

Ever see someone walking down a street in Mexico and just know they’re not from around here? It’s like playing “Spot the Gringo,” and while Mexicans are generally friendly, foreigners tend to stand out like a sore thumb. Their outfits scream comfort over style —athletic sandals, anyone? And their faces? Smiling at everyone like they’re auditioning for the “Nice American” role. Then there’s the way they look at people — overdoing eye contact and forcing everyone they pass to be their new best friend.

Of course, there’s also the gringo habit of leaning on everything — because why stand when you can lean? And when navigating narrow sidewalks, they’re always in a rush, showing that classic gringo urgency. Oh, and they love staring — whether it’s a leaf or a piece of trash, it’s all fascinating. Blending in? Not their forte. But they sure have a knack for making their presence known!

The tell-tale gringo: how to spot a foreigner in Mexico

Beauty is in the blue eye of the beholder

Dating in Mexico is like a confusing game of “Who’s the prettiest?” where it’s not just about skin color but also social class. Racism in Mexico is a mix of classism and colorism.

Unlike the U.S., where races were segregated by law, Mexico’s complex mestizo history has created a society where darker skin often means poverty and fewer opportunities. Wealthy Mexicans? They’re mostly lighter-skinned, thanks to centuries of colonialism. This is why Mexican beauty standards are Eurocentric — blonde hair, light eyes, the works. But if a foreigner marries someone darker-skinned, Mexicans sometimes wonder, “Why choose that?” Casual racism? Definitely. 

Beauty is in the blue eye of the beholder

Digital nomad blues

Typing away in Veracruz’s Heroica taproom, sipping beer and watching housing prices skyrocket around her, Sarah DeVries looks like the quintessential digital nomad. But hold on — she’s not exactly living the dream. Sarah has been in Mexico for decades, long before online work became a thing. Back then, her first job in Mexico involved working in education, getting paid in cash, and dreaming of a microwave.

Fast forward to 2011, and she snagged her first online gig with Open English. Things were looking good, until a lawsuit from a fellow worker turned her perfect gig into a nightmare.

Cue the existential crisis. As U.S. employers increasingly restrict remote work to workers based in the actual United States, Sarah’s realizing that maybe freelancing is just as stable of a strategy as taking a traditional full-time job.

The digital nomad blues and a tale of remote work caution

When everybody wants the ‘real’ Mexico

Twelve years ago, while living in Querétaro, Sarah and her sister decided to visit San Miguel de Allende, thinking it was the perfect, authentic Mexican town. Nestled in the mountains with mild weather, charming streets and a lovely artisan market, it seemed like the ideal getaway. But as they wandered the Zócalo, they couldn’t help but notice something odd: they were passing more expats than actual Mexicans. San Miguel, it turned out, had become a retirement haven for U.S. and Canadian expats. 

So, what is the “real” Mexico? The idea often floats around that places like Cancún or Los Cabos aren’t “authentic,” but what if the “real” Mexico is constantly shifting? After all, when new arrivals — whether from abroad or other parts of Mexico — move in, they change the landscape, often making locals lament that their beloved towns are no longer the same. In Querétaro, for example, natives grumbled about the influx of Chilangos (people from Mexico City), who were “ruining” the city with their traffic and looser morals. Sound familiar?

The truth is, places change. Newcomers bring both benefits (more services!) and drawbacks (more traffic!). And while we love discovering hidden gems, we also secretly wish they stay hidden… until we arrive. Then, it’s like, “Sorry, but now it’s ours. Please don’t come.” 

Welcome to the complicated nature of gentrification and tourism.

When everyone wants the “real” Mexico

Should I get offended?

Gringos and Mexicans make a pretty great pair — like peanut butter and jelly, but with a surprise dollop of salsa. Our cultural personalities mesh well, unlike, say, the classic tension between U.S. and French citizens. But even the loveliest matches have their moments. Sometimes, gringos get downright annoyed. And sometimes, Mexicans are left wondering if their new gringo friend was raised in a pressure cooker.

In Mexico, time is more of a suggestion. If you’re rushing, this might not be the place for you. Get used to it. Parties? They start when they start. No one’s apologizing for showing up three hours late. The goal is being there, not being punctual.

Now, gringos, listen up: don’t show your impatience too obviously. Mexican patience is legendary, but if you’re too loud about it, you’ll get on their nerves faster than a neighbor’s blasting music. Speaking of noise — this country is not a whispering library. If your neighbors are loud, well, welcome to Mexico. Complain all you want, but the noise won’t stop. The cops will show up, nod and leave, and the music will turn back up.

If you’re getting upset over all this, just remember the saying: “Si ya saben cómo soy, ¿para qué me invitan?” — “If you know how I am, why invite me?” So grab a beer, relax and don’t expect anyone to arrive on time. It’s Mexico, baby.

Should I get offended?

The American Know-It-All

We all know the classic American Know-It-All: always a guy, right? He’s the self-proclaimed expert on everything in Mexico — customs, holidays, traditions, what people like, don’t like, think, don’t think. He knows the best taco joints and the inner workings of Mexican families. Oh, and did I mention he barely speaks Spanish?

It’s like those Mexicans who claim English is super easy. They “understand perfectly,” they just struggle with speaking it. Okay, buddy. But if you don’t speak the language, I’m not following you around the country.

The American Know-It-All

On the other end of the spectrum, you have the actual Know-It-Alls. They throw out folkloric phrases, translate them for you, and expect you to be impressed. Pro tip: Don’t offer unsolicited expertise. Don’t assume you’re the most interesting person in the room. And definitely don’t explain Mexico to Mexicans.

Mexicans, for the most part, let these guys be. Maybe they whisper a “qué pendejo” later, but they don’t dwell on it. Turns out, we’re all a bit clueless sometimes—and that’s okay. Just don’t make it your thing.

If you’re interested in more Sarah DeVries, you can find her complete writing for Mexico News Daily here.

The post Best of 2024: Life in Mexico according to Sarah DeVries appeared first on Mexico News Daily

The Christmas season lasts from December 12 to All Kings Day on January 6 (or for some Candlemas Day on February 2). During the Holiday season you can expect to see a mixture of pre-Hispanic rituals, religious ceremonies, and contemporary Christmas traditions such as Christmas trees and wreaths — a mix of Mexica, Catholic, and modern traditions typical of Mexico.

The Holiday season here works a little differently and goes on for much longer — so here’s a primer on what to expect 

Christmas decorations

Before the Posadas begin, decorations will start going up. The main plaza in town is decorated with lights, Christmas trees, wreaths, and a large nativity scene. Families and neighborhoods will begin making “farolitos” to light the way for the posadas. Farolitos are paper lanterns made out of paper bags with designs cut into the face of the bag. The bags are filled with sand to hold them upright and a small battery-operated candle placed inside. It is said that lanterns lit the way for Mary and Joseph on their journey to Bethlehem.

Storage boxes are pulled out of closets containing the “Nacimiento” or nativity scene.  Almost every house has one. The manger, figurines, and animals are carefully unwrapped and everything is displayed prominently as a reenactment of the birth of Jesus. For traditionalists the baby Jesus is not placed in the manger until Christmas Eve. The three kings inch closer to the manger each day until February 3rd, the day they arrived to present their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the baby Jesus.

Mexican Christmas carols

Christmas songs are very popular in Mexico. They are a mix of traditional and contemporary, some of which you hear in the United States. “Noche de Paz” (Silent Night) is very popular. You will hear church choirs practicing this song for Christmas Mass. An indigenous couple comes down my street every Christmas, with the husband playing this song on his bugle while his wife collects tips from those who come to the door to listen.

A favorite song of the children is “Mi Burrito Sabanero,” a song about the little donkey that Mary and Joseph ride to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus. A “villancico” (Spanish language carol) that nearly everyone has heard at least once is the fifty-year old “Feliz Navidad” sung by Jose Feliciano.  A cheery, Christmassy song repeated endlessly in stores and bars leading up to Christmas to put you in the holiday spirit. For those who prefer more contemporary songs, there is Luis Miguel’s “Santa Claus Llego a La Ciudad,” performed with all the glitz and glamor of Frank Sinatra singing Santa Claus is Coming to Town.

Posadas

On December 16, the posadas begin. In a traditional posada, still enacted in many neighborhoods in Mexico, a procession of local participants will visit predetermined houses, sing, and ask for shelter.  This is a symbolic recreation of the biblical story of Joseph and the Virgen Mary’s journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Led by Mary and Joseph, followed by angels, musicians and local participants. The group eventually all end up at a home that agrees to give them shelter.  The procession enters the home and traditionally kneels before the altar and prays. After praying, the fiesta begins, complete with traditional food, drinks, pinatas, music, and ponche navideno. The posadas occur every evening for the nine days it took Mary and Joseph to reach the stable in Bethlehem on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Mexicans eat their large family Christmas meal on Christmas Eve then everyone goes to midnight mass together.  Christmas Day is for rest and leftovers or a smaller meal. 

Why didn’t I get a Christmas Present?

If you stop by to wish a Mexican family “Feliz Navidad” on Christmas Day, you will notice there is no wrapping paper strewn about from unwrapping gifts. Christmas presents are not opened until Three King’s Day, January 3. On Three King’s Day, the kings have reached the stable to present their gifts to the newborn. In days past, it was traditional to shine up your shoes and leave them out the night before to be filled with gifts (similar to Christmas stockings), though this tradition has largely fallen by the wayside in modern Mexico.

On Three King’s Day, family and friends gather to open presents.  After opening their gifts and sharing some holiday cheer they will each get a slice of the Rosca de Reyes — an oval or round Christmas cake – which has a small plastic baby Jesus hidden in one slice. The person who finds the baby Jesus must then throw a party for the others for Candlemas on February 2. Typically, this consists of tamales and atole, a pre-Hispanic drink made from corn, water, piloncillo, cinnamon, and vanilla.

If you are visiting Mexico for the holidays, be sure to go to a local marketplace and buy a Nacimiento and handmade ornaments to take home with you!

Sheryl Losser is a former public relations executive, researcher, writer and editor. She has been writing professionally for 35 years. She moved to Mazatlán in 2021 and works part-time doing freelance writing. She can be reached at AuthorSherylLosser@gmail.com and at Mexico: a Rich Tapestry of History and Culture.

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Alan’s journey is the latest feature in MND’s “My American Dream is in Mexico” series, which spotlights the growing trend of Mexican-Americans reclaiming their heritage by choosing to live in Mexico. Each story delves into the motivations behind the move, the complexities of navigating dual identities, and the profound connections rediscovered in the country their parents once left behind.

Alan’s story weaves together themes of family, poetry, and the impacts of gentrification on a young family, offering a glimpse into what it means to make a home in Mexico.

Can you share your journey from discovering poetry to teaching, and what led you to writing full-time?

“Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, I was surrounded by diversity, hip-hop, and graffiti culture. As a teenager, I found my voice through rap and graffiti — spray-painting walls at night with my friends — because those were things my peers respected. Poetry, on the other hand, wasn’t something I could openly claim back then.

My journey into poetry was slow. It wasn’t until I sat in a classroom, away from my friends, that I started taking it seriously. Reading poets like Walt Whitman for the first time at 18 or 19 really drew me in. His sense of community, caring for others, and paying attention to the world resonated deeply. Poetry gave me a sense of value, confidence, and belonging — something I needed but didn’t realize was missing.

Later, I spent a decade teaching high school in high-need areas, from New Orleans to Boston. Many of my students had been expelled, faced homelessness, or spent time in jail. That work taught me so much — about appreciating what I have and about the resilience of young people who feel invisible, like I did growing up as a Latino boy with immigrant parents. It also deepened my belief in the importance of helping others feel seen and heard.

After 10 years, I was exhausted and needed a change. I applied to grad school for poetry at the University of San Francisco and received a fellowship, which meant I didn’t have to pay—an amazing privilege in the U.S. That’s when I transitioned from teaching to writing full-time. I channeled all the energy I’d spent on lesson plans and mentoring into my art, and that’s how I wrote my first two books.”

What role does identity play in your poetry and storytelling?

“I realized my upbringing was pretty unique. As a Latino, growing up without an everyday mother in my house was already transformative. Then, on top of that, being Mexican-American and growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area added its own layers. San Francisco is such an innovative and politically open place. I was going to protests as a teenager because that’s just the kind of environment San Francisco has always been — progressive and caring about others. That mindset naturally made its way into my poetry.

Being from the Bay Area is a big part of my identity — it’s number one for me. Then, being the son of immigrants comes next, and growing up in a single-parent household is another layer. As I started peeling back these parts of myself, I realized I didn’t know too many poets with my background or my path. Even the Latino poets I was reading were mostly traditional Chicanos from L.A., but that wasn’t me. I was a nerd from Silicon Valley who grew up watching Star Wars.

At the time, I hadn’t read a book that felt like it was written for someone like me. A lot of us feel that something needs to be said that hasn’t been said yet, and I thought maybe I could say it. That’s what drove my first books. I wanted to be the Bay Area Mexican-American millennial nerd I hadn’t seen in literature. My hope was that others like me — not exactly like me, but people who felt unseen — could find themselves in my work, or feel inspired to write their own stories after reading mine.”

What was the inspiration behind Notes from the Eastern Span, your 2021 book?

“I wrote my most recent poetry book from the perspective of the Bay Bridge, which connects Oakland and San Francisco. When I was growing up in San Francisco, the bridge was old and eventually torn down to make way for this new, shiny white bridge. To me, that bridge became a symbol of gentrification. It felt like a gut punch, and I think a lot of people from the Bay Area feel the same way.

Growing up in a place like San Francisco, you see so much change over time. People come in, driven by Tiktok, social media, and the ways the world works now, and gentrification pushes out people who’ve been there for generations. It’s painful to watch friends, family, and even students no longer able to afford to live where they grew up. There’s a sense of loss — not just of people, but of culture and connection.

This third book emerged from processing that sense of loss. The destruction and rebuilding of the bridge felt like a metaphor for the transformation of the Bay Area. The new bridge wasn’t built for people like my dad, a Mexican immigrant; it was for a new wave of tech industry arrivals who often lack the same history or deep connections to the community. Today, San Francisco is the most childless major city in the U.S. and likely one of the cities with the widest wealth gap among its residents”

How has your personal experience with gentrification influenced your decision to move to Mexico?

“My mom always told us to be proud of being Mexican and reminded us that we weren’t white. As I got older, that shaped my connection to Mexico. When it comes to gentrification, I feel like I was pushed out of where I grew up in California. So, I was careful about where I moved to in Mexico. I didn’t want to go to Mexico City, Guadalajara, or even San Miguel de Allende, which is beautiful but full of foreigners. I’m not against people moving, but I didn’t want to just live in a city, go to the cool restaurants, and feel disconnected. 

That’s why I chose Xalapa. There aren’t many Americans here, and even my family makes fun of me for being the gringo, which I’m fine with. I wanted to be here because my family lives here — my mom and my abuela — and I wanted my son to grow up in a community. I didn’t want to be one of those expats moving to places like Cancun or Tulum. I’ve met people who move here without a connection to Mexico, and sometimes they act entitled, thinking they know more about the country than people who’ve lived here their whole lives. To me, that’s part of gentrification. I didn’t want to be in that group. I wanted to live a Mexican life in Mexico speaking Spanish.”

How does living in Veracruz compare to life in the Bay Area?

“My wife Briana and I first got a taste of Mexico in 2019 and returned to the Bay Area in 2020 when COVID hit, but living in Mexico was always in our hearts. We wanted to give our son, Maceo, a life that was rich and full of experiences because that’s something that we both created for ourselves. Mexico became the place where we could own a home and have the time to really be with him. In the Bay Area, you’re constantly driving, working long hours, stuck in traffic, and there’s little time or space for family. 

People in the U.S. are addicted to work and the stress of it all, while in Mexico, there’s a much better family life balance. The U.S. is stressful and divided politically, and we felt that Mexico, with our family connections and our ability to speak Spanish, was the place where we could spend these early years with Maceo. It’s a huge privilege that we even have this choice, but Mexico allows for family life to take center stage in a way the U.S. doesn’t.”

How has your identity as a U.S.-born Mexican-American shaped your experience in Mexico?

“As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to see being Mexican-American as a “third culture.” I don’t pretend to be fully Mexican or gringo. There are Mexican-Americans who feel more connected to either side, but for me, it’s about embracing my unique blend of experiences — like the Bay Area hip-hop and fusion culture I grew up with. I’m proud of my Mexican heritage and have worked to connect with it, which is why I live in Mexico with my son. But I also don’t get offended when people here see me as gringo. I remind myself that I’ve had the privilege to experience more than many of my relatives who’ve never left home. As my wife says, it takes courage to leave what you know and walk in another world.”

What advice would you give to other Mexican-Americans considering a move to Mexico?

“My biggest advice is to spend time in the place you’re considering moving to and trust your intuition. As a writer, I’ve learned to listen to my gut, and moving to Mexico felt like a calling for me. Don’t let others’ doubts, like concerns about safety, distract you. Block out the noise and really listen to yourself. Moving here wasn’t easy — leaving my job, buying a home, and relocating my family — but I trusted that it was the right decision. And if things don’t work out, it’s okay to pivot.”

Rocio is based in Mexico City and is the creator of CDMX iykyk, a newsletter designed to keep expats, digital nomads and the Mexican diaspora in the loop. The biweekly dispatches feature top news, cultural highlights, upcoming CDMX events & local recommendations. For your dose of must-know news about Mexico, subscribe here. 

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With the holidays upon us, money and spending can be an important consideration over how best to spend the season.

The author of “The Mexican Slang Dictionary,” Alasdair Baverstock, tells us how to talk turkey like a Mexican.

Agiotista n.

An informal and rapacious money-lender. A loan shark.

Bolo

1. n. The gift given as a baptism present; usually money.
2. exclam. Traditionally shouted when cash falls to the floor, often in the form of coins, signifying a free-for-all where whoever grabs the money keeps what they gather.

Codo adj. 

Stingy or tight-fisted when it comes to money. This expression comes from the idea that a person might complain that their elbow hurts when it comes to getting their wallet out. The term is often substituted by an elbow-tapping gesture.

Jinetear v. 

1. To rob, most often with the use of violence. From the days of mounted highwaymen, who would rob from horseback.
2. To turn a quick profit, with a small initial investment and minimal subsequent effort. To buy a six-pack of beers at the Oxxo and then sell them to tourists at the beach for double the price would be a perfect example.
3. Of an individual, to retain money that does not belong to them and spend it for other purposes, most often with the intention of using the extra money to make more, before paying what is owed.

Marro adj.

Stingy, or penny-pinching. Also codo.

Milky n.

The monetary amount of 1,500 pesos. An abbreviation of mil quinientos, or one thousand five hundred.

e.g. Me debes un Milky, wey. (You owe me fifteen hundred pesos, pal.)

Milpa n.

1. A traditional agricultural field in which the “three sisters” of corn, squash and beans are produced.
2. The monetary amount of MXN $1,000. An adaptation of mil, or one thousand.

Peseta n.

1. The monetary amount of 25 pesos, although not commonly used nowadays.
2. A tax, or cut, of 25%.

e.g. Te dejo trabajar, pero me das la peseta. 

I’ll let you work, but I want 25%.

Quiña n.

The monetary amount of 500 pesos. Abbreviation of quinientos, or five hundred.

Tostón n.

1. A squashed and fried slice of plátano macho.
2. The monetary amount of fifty pesos, traditionally a large thick coin, and so called given its similarity to the food.
3. A lady’s nipple, given similar size and shape to a tostón coin.

Varo n.

1. Colloquial term for the Mexican peso, equivalent of ‘bucks’ for U.S. dollars, or ‘quid’ for British pounds sterling.
2. A specific quantity of Mexican currency. Depending on the context, it can mean one peso or 1,000. 

You can buy “The Mexican Slang Dictionary” on Amazon in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

MND readers can find the physical book stocked in bookstores:

Mexico City               

• Under The Volcano Books, La Condesa
• Antonia, La Condesa
• Casa Bosques, La Roma

San Miguel de Allende        

• Aurora Books

Puerto Escondido

• Villa Mozart y Macondo, La Rinconada

Alisdair Baverstock is the Mexico City-based author of “The Mexican Slang Dictionary.”

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Who is entitled to the bonus?

All employees, including domestic workers, are entitled to the bonus under the terms of the Federal Labor Law.  

Seasonal or part-time employees are also entitled to a bonus, proportionate to the number of hours they’ve worked.  

People hired as independent contractors are not entitled to the bonus unless there is an employment agreement between the two parties. 

Employees who have quit or been laid off are also entitled to a bonus, proportionate to their employment period.

How do you calculate the bonus owed?

It must be equivalent to a minimum of 15 days of salary for all employees who have completed a full year of service. 

Those who have not completed a full year of service are entitled to receive a proportionate share of the bonus depending on the number of weeks or months the employee has worked. 

For example, to calculate the bonus of an employee who has worked for six months, these are the steps to follow: 

1. Divide the net monthly salary by 30 to get your daily pay rate.
2. Multiply the daily pay rate by the minimum 15 days of salary to get the standard bonus amount.
3. Divide the standard bonus amount by the total number of days in a year.
4. Calculate the number of days the employee worked (which in this example is 180 days for six months – (calendar days).
5. Multiply the number of days the employee worked by the proportional bonus quota to get the final bonus amount.

If the worker’s salary is variable, their income must be based on the daily average obtained over the last 30 calendar days of effective work.

When is it due?

The bonus must be distributed by Dec. 20.

Is the bonus taxable as income? 

Yes, if the amount exceeds 30 days of minimum wage.

Mexico News Daily

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Here, our subscriber-exclusive podcast discusses Tamanna’s three biggest realizations and the joy she has discovered living in the country. She dives into key realizations about self-care as an act of self-love, redefining “diet” to include everything we consume — from media to relationships — and how Mexico’s vibrant culture taught her to find joy in everyday moments. Join us as Tamanna discusses finding energy, inspiration, and balance while navigating challenges and building a life full of purpose and connection.

This podcast was produced using AI tools. All information collected and discussed in this episode was investigated, written and edited by human journalists. Compiled from a Mexico News Daily article by Tamanna Bembenek. Edited by Kate Bohné. Podcast produced by Chris Havler-Barrett. 

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San Miguel de Allende’s water crisis

The region of San Miguel de Allende has always relied on its short rainy season for most of its water. However, climate change is putting everyone at risk, while rural farming communities feel the highest impact.

It’s hard to imagine, but the arid landscape around San Miguel de Allende was once flourishing with forests that attracted rain and cooled the land. These forests were a vital part of the Laja River watershed, playing a key role in replenishing aquifers and maintaining steady rainfall. 

Over time, however, overdevelopment, drought and erosion have destroyed much of this tree cover. Without the cooling effect of the forests, the exposed land absorbs heat, disrupts rainfall patterns and becomes even drier, a destructive cycle known as the “watershed death spiral.”

Abandoned reservoirs and overexploited wells

Another key factor contributing to the region’s current water crisis is the shift in how water is sourced. Rural farming communities once depended on rainwater reservoirs to endure the long dry season. However, with the arrival of electricity in the late 20th century, communities began drilling deep wells, which quickly became their main water source. As a result, rainwater reservoirs were abandoned and left to deteriorate.

Large-scale agribusiness has severely overexploited deep wells, depleting aquifers faster than they can replenish. As a result, many wells have already run dry, and the remaining water is often polluted with toxic levels of arsenic and fluoride. This contamination poses serious health risks and further exacerbates the region’s water crisis.

Tikkun Eco Center and Agua Para la Vida

Non-profit Tikkun Eco Center is stepping in to tackle this crisis. Through its Agua Para la Vida project, the Tikkun team focuses on restoring and reforesting water reservoirs to improve environmental and community health.

In 2022, Tikkun set out to restore the historic reservoir in the San Miguel neighborhood of San José de Gracia, a resource that had served four villages for over 200 years. Once a vital water source, the reservoir had deteriorated into little more than a mud flat after years of neglect. When the local aquifer could no longer meet the community’s needs, villagers were forced to ration water, receiving only two hours of well water per week per family, barely enough for personal use, let alone farming or livestock.

Breathing life back into the land

In just one month, Agua Para la Vida removed over 1,400 truckloads of silt and soil from the San José reservoir. Later, they raised the reservoir’s edges, reinforced the dam and installed water management systems. Thanks to these efforts, the San Jose de Gracia reservoir is now capable of holding 45 million liters of water.

The excavated soil didn’t go to waste: it became the foundation for reforestation. Tikkun donated over 100 native tree saplings and hundreds of magueys, while the San Miguel Municipal Ecology Department (DMAS) contributed an additional 1,000 native trees and cacti that were all planted by volunteers. When the rains came, the reservoir filled and Tikkun stocked it with tilapia from their own ponds.

A global movement for ecological restoration

Tikkun Eco Center’s work is part of a global movement to heal degraded ecosystems. Restoring local forests and promoting sustainable agricultural systems is essential for reversing the damage caused by deforestation and desertification. Around the world, communities facing similar challenges have achieved remarkable success.

In Asia, Africa and Australia, reforestation efforts and sustainable water practices have turned barren landscapes into thriving ecosystems. These projects bring back green spaces and improve food security, water availability and local economies, offering hope and inspiration for regions like San Miguel de Allende.

The recipe for healthy ecosystems

Tikkun Eco Center specializes in restoring reservoirs and laying the foundation for regenerative agriculture. Their approach includes keeping fields green year-round with cover crops and intercropping trees. Permaculture methods guide their work, transforming fields into food forests that blend trees with deep-rooted grasses to create a cooler, more biodiverse ecosystem. This approach captures carbon, provides habitats for bees and beneficial insects, restores eroded soils and improves rainwater absorption.

Scaling up the impact

Tikkun Eco Center continues to expand its impact by partnering with experts and securing funding for vital projects. With support from the Rio Arronte Fund for Natural Resources and the San Miguel Community Foundation, Tikkun has teamed up with local water-focused NGO Caminos de Agua and Querétaro-based Inana to restore the community reservoir of Los Torres, another San Miguel neighborhood.

This work is just the beginning. The region has hundreds of abandoned reservoirs. Scaling up these efforts could transform the area. Tikkun’s holistic model of ecological repair has shown what’s possible. Still, more action and support are needed to expand the scope and reach of these efforts.

Visit TikkunSanMiguel.mx to learn more about how you can help.

Sandra Gancz Kahan is a Mexican writer and translator based in San Miguel de Allende who specializes in mental health and humanitarian aid. She believes in the power of language to foster compassion and understanding across cultures. She can be reached at: sandragancz@gmail.com

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“It’s funny,” another foreign friend commented to me last week. “There doesn’t seem to be any formal way of asking someone out on a date here.”

“Of course there is!” I responded. “You ask if they want to get coffee!”

My friend laughed and rolled his eyes, but I was serious. That really is what people say when they want to get to know you better, romantically or otherwise. If it’s someone that you could potentially have a romantic relationship with, then it’s basically an invitation to a first date. “I bet you didn’t know you were dating so many people right now,” I teased.

Last week I wrote about all the different ways that Mexicans have to say “no,” and plenty of good extensions were added on in the comments. Unfortunately, sometimes the “no” is in response to an invitation you were excited to make.

More so certainly than in my native US, plans in Mexico seem to be fairly informal. This is mostly true for plans with friends, but can extend to other types of events as well. Keep in mind too that it’s common to get dumped because someone’s family has asked them to do something at the same time. Family really is first here, which is tricky if you’re not part of one.

Mexicans, for their part, are much more forgiving when those plans don’t actually get to happen. I and many of my fellow compatriots are visibly irritated when someone “nos queda mal” (doesn’t come through for us). Here, however, they tend to take a, “Well, these things happen,” approach. You couldn’t make it? That’s a shame; next time!

This is one of those few areas in which Mexicans and their North American neighbors aren’t all that compatible. In most ways, as I’ve written before, we’re natural, fast friends. But make a gringo wait around for too long, and they’re not going to be happy. Berate a Mexican for being late, and they’re not going to be happy, either.

Basically, not sticking to one’s word on either side equals trouble in paradise.

So knowing that, how can you make plans that stick?

Basic tips you can use to make friends and actually hang out with them

Go to events where you know people will already be gathered 

Compared to their North American neighbors, Mexicans are still quite community-minded. This means that community events and parties are already planned and out there, just waiting to be joined! If you have kids in school, this is easy to achieve: simply show up to the school events!

Take in-person classes locally 

I don’t know if my particular city is special in this regard, but it seems there are countless courses to be had. The jarana (a string instrument used in Son Jarocho) is a popular instrument to learn, and lots of Mexicans and foreigners alike take classes to learn it. I myself would love to learn the harp! In general, music classes are a good choice since you can learn quite a lot even if your Spanish isn’t perfect.

There are also ceramics and pottery classes, something I’m hoping to get into soon — really, all kinds of art classes abound! And if your Spanish is fairly good, a nice literature class could be very enriching.

Find out what clubs there are in your area, and join one!

Again, civic life seems stronger in Mexico…everyone spending all their time on phones hasn’t quite taken over yet. You might find a book club, a sports club, or even go to classes at a gym — that counts!

Hang around afterwards

Spontaneous things happen after events and classes like they do everywhere. If others are going to a café or bar afterwards and you’re around when they plan it, you’ll most likely be invited. Don’t be shy! Remember, most people here are open, friendly, and genuinely curious and generous. Take those same attitudes, and the sky’s the limit.

From lighter friendships, deeper connections can happen. And once they do, you can freely say, “Seriously, though. Are you really coming?”

Happy hanging-out time, everyone! 

Sarah DeVries is a writer and translator based in Xalapa, Veracruz. She can be reached through her website, https://sarahedevries.substack.com/

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I thought of this recently when two Mexico News Daily readers commented that my use of the word ‘expat’ in an article I wrote was offensive and elitist. I pointed out, defensively, that the Oxford Dictionary’s definition of expat is pretty innocuous: “a person who lives outside their native country.” 

What’s not to like? But while the word ‘expat’ may seem neutral at first, its implications are not. As you probably remember from high school English class, there’s denotation, the literal, textbook meaning of a word, as opposed to connotation, the subjective idea or sense — positive or negative, but rarely neutral — associated with that word. And it turns out, the connotation of the word “expat” is very charged. 

Unpacking the terms expat, immigrant, and migrant

What makes one person an expat and another an immigrant? I doubt most foreigners who move to Mexico think of themselves as ‘immigrants’. Moving here, for most of us, is a lifestyle choice and not the result of economic deprivation or dire circumstances in our home country, such as oppression or persecution. Even those foreigners who move to Mexico because they can’t afford to buy a home in the U.S. are still privileged economically, compared to most Mexicans.

The truth is, the word expat carries assumptions about class, race, education, affluence, and privilege, and usually refers to Western white people working or retiring abroad.

There are a few exceptions. For example, I’ve met professionals from India who work in the US high-tech sector. Although they’re not White, the kind of work they do gives them expat status (although they may be perceived as immigrants because they’re dark-skinned, just as affluent African Americans are sometimes stereotyped as people on welfare). 

“Migrants” are people searching for higher pay and better living conditions, who move back and forth across a border to find work, like seasonal crop harvesting or construction. I’ve never met a foreign resident in Mexico who picks avocados and sends money back to their family in the U.S., the way Latino migrants in California pick strawberries and send money back to Mexico. 

Then there are the foreigners who work within the Mexican economy, who don’t fit into any of these categories. In Guanajuato, for example, where my husband and I live, we know foreign residents who teach English at the University of Guanajuato or perform as musicians in the university symphony. Their salary is decent only by Mexican standards, and their pensions are small. These foreigners have the privilege that comes with skin color, without the usual economic advantages.

To me, the word “immigrant” sounds less affluent, more like a person searching for better economic opportunities, than the word expat, which sounds classy and hip. No wonder I liked the sound of it.

Changing the words we use will not, by itself, change the inequities that privilege brings, but it’s a start. How we refer to ourselves and others carries weight. I, for one, have decided not to use the term ‘expat’ anymore. I’m an extranjera, a foreign resident of Mexico.

How do you feel about the word expat being offensive in nature? Does it describe us best, or is there another word you would use when describing yourself?

Louisa Rogers and her husband Barry Evans divide their lives between Guanajuato and Eureka, on California’s North Coast. Louisa writes articles and essays about expat life, Mexico, travel, physical and psychological health, retirement and spirituality. Her recent articles are on her website, https://authory.com/LouisaRogers.

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