Thousands of Mexicans flocked to the streets of the capital’s Zócalo to celebrate the Cry for Independence, the country’s national holiday, this Friday with a series of musical events and a closing speech the last full year of Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s government.
Mexicans from different regions of the country have been arriving since the afternoon They headed to the capital’s Zócalo to take part in the traditional Grito ceremony and enjoy musical performanceswhich includes Grupo Frontera, known for its Nordic music, and the controversial group Yahritza y su Esencia, whose words about Mexico have recently sparked controversy.
But how did this celebration come about and why is it so important for Mexico? We explain the key data:
What historical moment do Mexicans celebrate on this day?
On September 15th and 16th, Mexicans celebrate the moment when the city of Dolores, in what is now the state of Guanajuato He rose up against the Spanish and demanded his freedom.
In 1810, tensions arose between Mexican patriots and the Spanish Viceroyalty and their leaders planned a revolution, which was discovered by the authorities and some were arrested.
After the discovery, Events progressed and on September 16th the population was called upon to take up arms.. So began the fight of the Mexicans for their independence, the first American viceroyalty to take up arms against the Spanish metropolis.
What happened on the night of the independence cry?
Three people prepared the beginning of the liberating revolution: the priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, accompanied by Ignacio Allende and Juan Aldama. They incited the local population to revolt against Spain.
According to some versions of what happened that day, early in the morning of September 16, 1810, The priest rang the bell of Dolores Church and with the cry “Long live the Virgin of Guadalupe!” Death to bad government!’ A process of independence began that ended in 1821.
There are several versions about the exact words Hidalgo would have said that day. Some report that he also said: “Long live America!”, “Long live Fernando VII!” or “Long live religion!”
Will the celebration take place on September 15th or 16th?
Father Hidalgo’s cry as a call to take up arms actually occurred on September 16 at around 5 a.m.
However, it has now become a tradition to celebrate from September 15th.
There are several versions of this too. One of them claims that the so-called “El Grito” party was celebrated on the night of September 15th since 1910. because Porfirio Díaz, the then president, would have wanted the celebrations to coincide with his birthday.
However, this version has been denied as the archives show that the celebration has been taking place since the 15th century in 1840, with a folk festival, serenades, bands, fireworks and artillery firing.
What happened to the historic Dolores Bell?
The bell that Miguel Hidalgo rang at dawn on September 16, 1810, when the War of Independence was over, It was preserved by subsequent Liberal governments as one of the main symbols of the beginning of this movement.
On September 15, 1896, the bell was incorporated into the independence celebration.
Currently, this bell is located in a niche directly above the central balcony of the National Palace in the historic center of Mexico City.
Every September 15, the President, for his part, has the duty to call the Zócalo to revive the call for independence that Miguel Hidalgo made in 1810.