Friday Feature: Benito Juarez 

It’s that time of year again, time to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month! Starting on September 15th and 16th with the celebration of Mexico’s Independence Day (think America’s 4th of July) and ending on October 15th, we’ll be featuring an array of notable Hispanic figures that have contributed to art, culture and history. Stay tuned for our favorite recipes delivered to your inbox and keep an eye out for a hot deal, or 2!

To kick-off our Friday Features, we begin with Benito Juarez, also known as the Abraham Lincoln of Mexico. Benito Pablo Juárez García was born in 1806 in Oaxaca, Mexico. He was the first President of Mexico who was of indigenous origin. Born to a poor Zapotec rural family, Juarez was orphaned at a young age when he moved to Oaxaca at the age of 12 to go to school. He worked hard and eventually became a lawyer, judge and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Eventually he became President of Mexico from 1858 until his death in 1872. Juarez was celebrated for ousting the European incursion and was seen as a preeminent symbol of Mexican Nationalism.

After his death, the city and state of Oaxaca added "de Juarez" to their formal names in his honor, and numerous other places and institutions were named for him. His birthday (21 March) is celebrated as a national public and patriotic holiday in Mexico. He is the only individual Mexican to be so honored.