Teacher's Day in Mexico
Teacher's Day was first celebrated in Mexico in 1918, after the signing of the decree by the President Venustiano Carranza. The day of 15th of May was marked by two events on the calendar: the capture of Queretaro and a day of remembrance of Saint Juan Bautista de la Salle, the patron of all educators. In honor of the last one till nowadays teachers are honored precisely on May 15, despite the fact that UNESCO recommends to do it on October 5.
Today, Mexico has more than 1 million 800 thousand of teachers, of which more than 60% are women. 80% of male teachers and 72% of female teachers have higher education.
The most popular present to the Teacher's Day is traditionally flowers from students. Many pupils give to their teachers an apple, the symbol of knowledge since the times of Adam and Eva. The outstanding teachers of the country on May 15 reach the Jose Vasconcelos award; he was a famous Mexican writer, philosopher and politician.
The day of 15th of May is a non-working day in all educational institutions of Mexico.
This national holiday is dedicated to the events that took place in Guatemala in October 1944, when the military, students and workers began an uprising that led to the change of government and the beginning of a new stage in the development of the country.
Native American Day is celebrated in Mexico every year on April 19 in memory of the Inter-American Indian Congress, assembled in Mexico on the same day in 1940 to protect and preserve the indigenous cultures of Northern and Southern Americas.