Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Mexico has a number of Fiestas Patrias, and the one coming up next is the November 20th celebration of the anniversary of the Mexican Revolution. Although Mexico's Revolution began November 20th, 1910, it's now officially celebrated on the third Monday of November, which this year falls on the 17th.

What began as an uprising against longtime dictator Porfirio Diaz, who resigned and left the country in 1911, the beginning of the Mexican Revolution was a period of change for the people of Mexico. But the abdication of Porfirio Diaz did not usher in an era of peace and prosperity. The armed struggle lasted for the better part of a decade until around 1920.

But it eventually ended dictatorship in Mexico and established a constitutional republic. A principal legacy of the Revolution is the current Mexican Constitution, drafted in 1917 in the city of Queretaro, under the leadership of Venustiano Carranza. It's still in use today, albeit with many amendments.

A number of groups, led by revolutionaries including Francisco Madero, Pascual Orozco, Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata, participated in the long and costly conflict. Though Francisco I. Madero started the Revolution, and later became president, the two most colorful revolutionary leaders were Pancho Villa, the "Centaur of the North," and Emiliano Zapata, leader of the "Liberation Army of the South." They've also made the deepest impression on the Mexican people.

Throughout Mexico, there are streets and monuments named for the various heroes of the Mexican Revolution, principally Madero, Zapata, Villa and Carranza, and Mexican schools teach its importance. It's a key part of Mexican national identity, and a time to remember and enjoy the freedom that was brought about by Mexico's revolutionaries.

As we celebrate the National Holiday on Monday, November 17th, most people will have the day off from work so they can enjoy fiestas and the parade that winds through downtown Puerto Vallarta. Banks, government offices and about half of the businesses in town will be closed.

But, as El Día de la Revolución is a time of celebration filled with tradition and music - especially Mariachi, which became the symbol of the Revolution because it represented the national spirit of the indigenous Mexican blood - Puerto Vallarta will celebrate the city's inaugural Mariachi Festival from November 20-22, 2014.

For three days, the Mariachi PV Fest will fill Puerto Vallarta with the sights, sounds and flavors of Mexico. The fun begins on Thursday at 8 pm with a free event at Los Arcos Amphitheater, featuring performances by two Mariachi bands and Ballet Folklórico Arte Mexicano, Charro demonstrations, regional tequila tasting and a spectacular fireworks display.

Friday and Saturday's events are not free, but a portion of the proceeds will benefit El Centro de Atención al Sordo, a private non-profit organization in Puerto Vallarta that helps young deaf people and their families by teaching them sign language.

Click HERE for more information and a full schedule of Mariachi PV Fest events.

Everyone here at Banderas News wishes all of our readers, wherever they may be, a happy Mexican Revolution Day!