Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Over the weekend, I had to explain to more than a few visitors here that St. Patrick's Day is NOT a holiday in Mexico, but rather this year it fell on what Mexico celebrates as homage to its great President, Benito Juarez on this the 208th anniversary of his birth.

As we return to work from yet another long holiday weekend I have thought about what so many people say, "it seems like every day is a holiday in Mexico."

To be perfectly honest, however, Mexico has fewer legal holidays than the US does and about the same as Canada. Mexico only has seven legal holidays each year with an eighth holiday, December 1, falling every six years when a new President takes office.

The legal holidays in Mexico are January 1, the first Monday in February (this replaces the February 5 Constitution Day holiday and is great as it is the day after the Super Bowl each year!), the third Monday in March (this replaces the March 21 Benito Juarez' birthday holiday), May 1, September 16, the third Monday in November (this replaces the November 20 Revolution Day holiday) and December 25. These are the only LEGAL holidays during the year.

There are, what I like to call "other holidays" that are celebrated here in Mexico, but they are not strictly legal. It is important to keep these pseudo-holidays in mind, especially in business when many offices may not open on these days. Here is rundown of those days:

Semana Santa and Semana Pascua - the week prior to and the week after Easter. Most law offices, government offices and schools will be closed during these two weeks. Many businesses will close during the Holy Days of Holy Thursday and Good Friday, as well as on Easter Sunday.

End of April/Early May - Let's see, we have one legal holiday, May 1, thrown into a mixture of other commemorative days. April 30 is Children's Day (yes, there is really a Children's Day here!), May 5 commemorates the victory over the French in the Battle of Puebla, May 10 is Mother's Day, May 15 is Teacher's Day, and May 23 is Student's Day. Need I say more?

September - Although the holiday is September 16, it seems like the entire month of September is filled with fiestas and celebrations for Mexico's Independence, Mariachi, and Charros.

The Guadalupe-Reyes Marathon - this refers to the holidays that fall between December 12 (The Day that honors the Virgin of Guadalupe) and January 6, the Day of the Three Kings, or Reyes Magos, in Spanish. With the Christmas and New Year's holidays, posadas and other celebrations, not much work gets done during these days.

This is just another aspect of why living and working in Mexico can be so magical - every day really IS a holiday!

Since 1997, Wayne Franklin and his team at Tropicasa Realty have been a trusted name in Puerto Vallarta real estate. Tropicasa Realty is the region's representative for "The Leading Agents of the World" and with over 100 years of combined experience in real estate, all agents of the company are affiliated with AMPI. Wayne Franklin or any member of his knowledgeable team can be contacted in-person at their Romantic Zone Office - Pulpito 145-A at Olas Altas or in their San Marino Office - San Marino Hotel at Rodolfo Gomez 111-4. While in PV they can be reached at (322) 222-6505 or by calling 866-978-5539 (Toll-Free) from the U.S.

Click HERE to learn more about Tropicasa Realty, or visit tropicasa.com.