Lent in Mexico is a deeply meaningful season rooted in Catholic tradition, introduced during Spanish colonization in the 1500s and blended with Indigenous customs over time. It is a 40-day period of reflection, sacrifice, and spiritual preparation leading to Easter (Pascua). Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (Miércoles de Ceniza) and ends on Holy Thursday evening, leading into Holy Week (Semana Santa).
The History Behind Lent
Lent arrived in Mexico with Spanish missionaries in the 16th century. Over time, Indigenous communities incorporated local ingredients, music, and ceremonial elements. The result is a uniquely Mexican expression of Lent — solemn yet communal, reflective yet vibrant.
In Mexico, Lent isn’t just about sacrifice.
It’s about:
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Family gatherings
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Sharing simple meals
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Community processions
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Spiritual renewal
It prepares hearts for the joy of Easter while reinforcing identity, resilience, and tradition.
Mexican Lenten Traditions
1. Ash Wednesday
Priests place ashes on the forehead in the shape of a cross, symbolizing humility and repentance. Many Mexicans attend Mass even if they are not regular churchgoers.
2. Fridays of Lent
Fridays are days of abstinence from meat. Families gather for special seafood or plant-based meals.
3. Altars & Religious Imagery
Churches are decorated in purple, the liturgical color of Lent, symbolizing penance and reflection.
4. Viacrucis (Stations of the Cross)
Many towns hold public reenactments of Christ’s Passion.
One of the most famous takes place in Iztapalapa, drawing thousands each year.
5. Semana Santa
The final week of Lent includes:
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Palm Sunday (Domingo de Ramos)
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Holy Thursday
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Good Friday
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Holy Saturday
Processions and dramatic reenactments are common across the country.
What Mexicans Eat During Lent
Because meat (especially red meat) is traditionally avoided on Fridays. Here are some Popular Lenten Foods:
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Capirotada (Mexican bread pudding with cinnamon, raisins, cheese)
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Tortitas de camarón (shrimp patties)
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Fish tacos or grilled fish
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Caldo de pescado (fish soup)
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Lentil dishes
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Nopales (cactus)
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Habas (fava beans)
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Cinnamon, piloncillo, dried fruits, and warm spices are very common
In Mexico, Lent is a season of reflection, simplicity, and community, a time when families gather around humble meals, churches fill with prayer, and traditions passed down for generations remind us who we are. It is a period shaped by resilience, faith, and the beauty of doing more with less such as sharing fish on Fridays, preparing capirotada with cinnamon and piloncillo, and walking together through Holy Week with reverence and hope. At Soldadera, these same values guide us. We believe in honoring tradition while creating something meaningful for today: in gathering people around flavors rooted in culture, in celebrating heritage with intention, and in building community through shared moments. Just as Lent prepares hearts through reflection and connection, Soldadera carries forward the spirit of perseverance, family, and authenticity in every sip which is inspired by the past, grounded in purpose, and made to bring people together.
