Mexican Independence Day 16 de Septiembre (continued)
Colonial society was highly stratified, classist, and discriminatory. Spaniards born in Spain occupied the higher echelons, followed by Criollos, those born in Mexico from Spanish parents; Mestizos, the mix-blood offspring of Spaniards and Natives; Indios, Native Indians; Negros, African slaves.
Each socio-ethnic group had very different rights and duties. Not surprisingly the privileged were the peninsular Spaniards, the European Whites. Discontent steadily grew, especially amongst the Criollos, who were always treated as second-class subjects of the Spanish Crown. The Criollos were also European Whites but they were thought of lesser class because they were born in America. It is no surprise then, that Criollos were the spark that ignited the Independence movement.
In 1808, Napoleon invaded Spain and decided to impose his brother, José Bonaparte, as king of Spain (1808-1810). The Criollos found in this circumstance the opportunity to seek their independence from Spain.
Influenced by the concepts proposed by the French philosophers Rousseau, Montesquieu, and Voltaire, and by the war of Independence of the United States, they decided to start a revolt. It was 1810, and they planned to start the war of Independence on the 2nd of October.
Unfortunately, their plans were discovered in early September.
The movement was in trouble.
Father Hidalgo
They had two alternatives; either abandon their plans or move faster and start the revolt immediately. Fortunately for our country, they decided upon the second alternative.
In the early hours of September 16, 1810, father Hidalgo, accompanied by several conspirators –Ignacio Allende, Doña Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez– rang the bell of his little church, calling everyone to fight for liberty. This was the beginning of the Independence War, which lasted 10 years.
And this is the moment that every 16th of September is re-enacted in every plaza or zócalo of Mexico, and commemorated by Mexicans all over the world.
It’s so beautiful to see streets, houses, buildings, and cars decorated everywhere in the country. On every street corner, we can see vendors selling flags, balloons, sombreros, and rehiletes –shuttlecock, all with green, white and red, our National Colors.
Flags wave from practically every house and building.
Mexican Independence Day 16 de Septiembre (continued)
Gorgeous lighted decorations are set up in every city, the most spectacular being those of the Zócalo, the main plaza, in Mexico City. This main plaza of every town and city is the place where the great 16 De Septiembre celebrations take place. People of all ages come to this fiesta of Independece, to take part in the collective enthusiasm!
Of course, food is always an essential part of these festivities. Literarily hundreds of stands are set up several days before and offer the traditional antojitos, most aptly described as a variety of finger foods, Mexican candies, and punch. Punch. ponche is a drink made of fruits that are in season: guayabas, sugarcane, raisins, and apples, and such a delicious aroma!
El Grito
During September, Mes de la Patria, the month of our nation as it is called in Mexico, restaurants serve traditional Mexican dishes, such as Mole Poblano, Chiles en Nogada, Guacamole, and chips.
During the evening of September 15, people start gathering in the zócalo. Many people walk around dressed in typical Mexican dress: men as Charros and women as China Poblanas, or indigenous dresses. Those who don’t own a traditional Mexican outfit, at least dress find something to wear in the colors of the flag.
Live Mariachi Music bands play to the delight of all present. There are also photography stands where one can have a picture taken, attired with a sombrero, and atop a wooden horse!
The euphoria is collective and all are prepared to shout, yell and make as much noise as possible with fake trumpets, noisemakers, and whistles!
As the evening advances, the plaza gradually fills with more and more people gathering to celebrate Mexico’s Independence. Suddenly there is practically no room to move. Excitement and euphoria reach a crescendo at the culminating moment when a government official arrives in the zócalo, at 11:00 P.M. to give the grito or cry of Independence. This ritual recreates the moment in which Father Hidalgo, gathered his followers in Dolores Guanajuato, and so commenced Mexico’s war of Independence.
It is customary for our President to deliver the grito in Mexico City’s zócalo. It is in this plaza, atop Palacio Nacional, the National Palace -a beautiful colonial building where the President’s offices are located-, that the original bell rung by Hidalgo is placed. And this is the bell that is rung
every 16th of September.
The ceremony reaches the high point when the crowd joins in proudly shouting out the names of the heroes of our Independence, to end with the exciting VIVA MÉXICO!
When the grito ceremony ends, the sky lights up with multicolored rockets that shower our hearts with the pride of knowing that we are a free and independent nation.
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