El Día de Benito Juárez (Benito Juárez Day) is a national Mexican holiday celebrating Mexico’s former president and national hero’s  March 21st birthday. A liberalist and a reformist, Juárez was born to indigenous Zapatec parents in 1806. He grew up in a poor peasant household in the Sierra mountains of Oaxaca. Yet, despite his humble upbringing, Juárez went on to become a well-educated lawyer and later married Margarita Maza who was part of an upper-class family in Oaxaca City. He first became involved in state politics in Oaxaca and was the federal deputy of the Liberal party, which in 1846 had taken power throughout Mexico. From 1847 to 1848, Juárez became Oaxaca's acting governor and during this time he built roads, public buildings and schools as well as curbed corruption.Juárez went on to become one of Mexico’s most celebrated presidents, serving five presidential terms between 1858 and 1872. He was also Mexico’s first indigenous president.The famed Mexican hero led the country during two civil wars – the Guerra de Reforma (War of the Reform) and the Segunda Intervención Francesa en México (French Intervention). He is remembered as a strong and diligent leader who is remembered for resisting French occupation, overthrowing the Empire, restoring the republic, for modernizing the country, and for promoting indigneous people’s rights. Juárez is regarded as one of Mexico’s greatest heroes. As well as having a national holiday named in his honor, almost every Mexican city has a street named after him and he is pictured on the 20-peso note. 

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