viernes, 19 de noviembre de 2010

Where's That Puente?

Up until a year or two ago, Mexico flaunted this wonderful institution known as the puente. I thought it was a great system. When a holiday, like Independence Day, falls on a Thursday what happens under the puente system? Thursday AND Friday are officially days off of work for everybody. Excellent, right?

This really did work well. If a lesser holiday, like Petroleum Expropriation Day--March 18th, falls on a Wednesday, that holiday was not celebrated at all that year, so that the day we would have had off on the 18th of March gets transferred to the 13th of December, so everyone gets an extra long weekend to celebrate Guadalupe Day. And if Revolution Day falls on a Saturday, that's just too bad. The extra-long weekend for Constitution Day made up for the lack of celebrating Revolution Day. I thought it was a great system.

Apparently, the current administration was not in agreement with me. Two or three years ago, they did away with this great system of extra-long weekends in order to "observe" holidays, just like in the US. This year, Revolution Day--November 20th, does fall on a Saturday. We "observed" Revolution Day on Monday.

Wait a tic--Monday? When the 20th actually falls on a Saturday?

Right. The logic baffles me as well. If the holiday is the 20th of November, wouldn't it make more sense to observe the holiday on the 19th?

Apparently not. Let's celebrate it on the 15th.

So Happy Revolution Day, all! In advance.

Or belated . . . I'm not really sure.

2 comentarios :

Leslie Harris dijo...

Everyone I've talked to so confused by Revolution Day being observed on the 15th. The teachers here offered a much simpler explanation..."Revolution Day is on the 20th, which happens to fall on a Saturday. There is always a parade on November 20th, and this year is no exception. So since the teachers will have to work on Saturday, we get the 15th off!" :)

Gotta love Mexico. Just when you think you're finally understanding how things work, they go and change it all! :)

On a side note...I've been reading your blog for awhile. I don't always comment, but I really enjoy reading about your adventures. :)

Jill dijo...

Thanks, Leslie!

Man, it didn't even dawn on me that teachers would have to work today, thanks to the parades--thank goodness they got the 15th off then!

And I really enjoy your blog, too (even if I"m not a big commenter, either). Thanks!