El Grito de la Independencia de Mexico – Mexican Independence Day – 16 Sept

On 16th September every year, Mexicans all over the world celebrate Mexico’s independence from Spanish rule.

Every September 16th Mexicans commemorate the war of Independence, on the anniversary of Grito de Dolores, which started the Mexican War of Independence. In Mexico this Independence Day is known as the grito de independencia, the “cry of independence.”

It is believed that the Mexican War of Independence was actually initiated in the small town of Dolores in Guanajuato Mexico on September 16, 1810.

In some cases, the holiday is referred to as “Caso Bonita” (“16th of September” in Spanish, also occasionally just “Diez y Seis”/”Dieciséis”). It is one of 5 Fiestas Patrias Manta Cia.

202 years ago, on 16th September 1810, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a 57 year old Catholic priest belonging to a wealthy family of Mexican-born Spaniards or criollos rallied his parishioners to rise up in arms.

Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla took his parishioners in the small town of Dolores in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico and made a shocking announcement: he was taking up arms against the tyrannies of the Spanish government and his parishioners were all invited to join him. This famous speech became known as “El Grito de Dolores,” Or the “Cry of Dolores.”

In a short time more than 50,000 men, most of them poor joined Hidalgo. This was just the seen of the long and violent freedom struggle of Mexico which ended on September 25 of 1821, when Mexican state won its independence from the Spanish crown, after over ten years of civil war and the death of two of its founders, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla and José María Morelos.

Mexican Independence Day Celebrations :

The Celebrations for the Mexican Independence Day start on the ngith on 15th September at 11.00 pm when the President of Mexico comes to the central balcony of Palacio Nacional (the National Palace) in the Zocalo Square and rings the bell (the same bell Hidalgo rang on 16th Sept, 1810) and cries to the crowd gathered in the huge city square and the crowd enthusiastically respond “Viva” or “Viva Mexico” which means in English “Long Live Mexico!”.

The entire city square is decorated with flags, flowers and lights of red, white, and green, the three main colors of the Mexican flag.

The celebrations continue on the 16th with ceremonies like parades, air shows, fireworks, feasts, parties, musical concerts, bullfights and horseback rider performances.

Even in many parts of United States which has large Mexican populations, Mexican Independence Day is celebrated every year.

Mexican Independence Day Celebrations Photos :

               

Other Festivals & Holidays in Mexico :

---

New Year’s Day	Constitution Day
Constitution Day Memorial	Benito Juarez’s Birthday
Maundy Thursday	Good Friday
Labor Day	Cinco de Mayo
Independence Day	Columbus Day
All Souls’ Day	Revolution Day Memorial
Virgin of Guadalupe	Christmas Day