Día de Independencia

Mexico Independence Day

September 16

by Dorothy Bell

Mexico Independence Day is celebrated throughout Mexico but the largest party is in Mexico City at the main city square known as the Zocalo. Many people attend dressed in the colors of the flag or in costume such as Charros and women as China Poblanas, or indigenous dresses.

Here on the eve of Independence Day at 11 o’clock the president of the nation goes on the main balcony in the National palace and rings the bell that Father Hidalgo rang over 200 years ago that started the struggle for independence from Spain. ( see Grito de Delores)

The President the recites the Grito de Delores.

The words of the Grito may vary, but they go something like this:

¡Vivan los heroes que nos dieron patria! ¡Viva!
¡Viva Hidalgo! ¡Viva!
¡Viva Morelos! ¡Viva!
¡Viva Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez! ¡Viva!
¡Viva Allende! ¡Viva!
¡Vivan Aldama y Matamoros! ¡Viva!
¡Viva nuestra independencia! ¡Viva!
¡Viva Mexico! ¡Viva!
¡Viva Mexico! ¡Viva!
¡Viva Mexico! ¡Viva!

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At the end the crowd goes wild! Fireworks!  Cheers! Noisemakers! Then the National Anthem.

Mexico National Anthem (translated)

Mexicans, at the cry of war,
prepare the steel and the steed,
and may the earth shake at its core
to the resounding roar of the cannon.

Gird, oh country, your brow with olive
the divine archangel of peace,
for your eternal destiny was written
in the heavens by the hand of God.

But if some strange enemy should dare
to profane your ground with his step,
think, oh beloved country, that heaven
has given you a soldier in every son.

War, war without truce to any who dare
to tarnish the country's coat-of-arms!

War, war! Take the national pennants
and soak them in waves of blood.

War, war! In the mountain, in the valley,
the cannons thunder in horrid unison

and the resonant echoes
cry out Union, Liberty!

Oh country, 'ere your children
defenseless bend their neck to the yoke,

May your fields be watered with blood,
may they trod upon blood.

And may your temples, palaces and towers
collapse with horrid clamor,
and their ruins live on to say:
This land belonged to a thousand heroes.

Oh, country, country, your children swear
to breathe their last in your honor,
if the trumpet with warlike accent
should call them to fight with courage.

For you the olive branches!
A reminder for them of glory!
A laurel of victory for you!
For them a tomb with honor!

Mexicans, at the cry of war,
prepare the steel and the steed,
and may the earth shake at its core
to the resounding roar of the cannon.

(The Mexican National Anthem was first performed on September 15, 1854, for the Fiestas Patrias, or Independence Fiesta.)

Throughout the country parades and ceremonies take place. Statues of Father Hidalgo are particularily decorated.

Rodeos, bullfights, cock fights, rodeos. Houses and cars are decorated. Vendors sell flags, horns, hats and other “Mexican party goods” with the flag’s green white and red;  green is on the left side of the flag symbolizes independence, White in the middle of the flag and symbolizes religion,  Red is on the right and symbolizes union.

The Palace of the Governor in Guadalajara

 Feasts that accompany the festivities include antojitos – finger foods, pozole (pork soup) chiles en Nogada, mole poblano, mescal and tequila. Many dishes are also displayed with GREEN, WHITE and RED.