Celebrating Mexican Independence Day

 

Mexican

 

Celebrating Mexican Independence Day by guest writer Andy Williams – One of the most important nations in Latin America and the most populous Spanish speaking country in the world, Mexico is a nation on the rise and it’s been doing its own thing since the nineteenth century – or the year 1811, to be precise. 2011 marked the bicentennial celebrations of Mexico’s independence, and this year on September 16th, Mexicans will be celebrating their 202nd year of freedom from foreign rule, and 103rd year of toppling the dictator Porfirio Diaz from power. If you’re taking a trip to Mexico from the UK be sure to check out the following top tour operators who fly to Mexico: Thomson, First Choice and Monarch. Take a look at the Mexico City Metro for more information on how to get around in the city.

Mexican

Mexico has a long history that its citizens are proud of, and this started long before the Spanish came to the country in the sixteenth century. The Aztecs are probably the most well-known of Mexico’s pre-colonial inhabitants, and Montezuma the most well-known among the Aztecs. The last of the Aztec emperors, Cuauhtémoc, was captured on August 13th, 1521, and under the Spanish, Mexico became Nueva Espana, or New Spain, and would remain that way for almost three hundred years before the uprising against imperial oppressors that would see Mexicans claim the country as their own. The Mexican War of Independence lasted for ten years, inspired by the French Revolution and the values of Liberty, Freedom and Equality, championed by philosophers such as Voltaire, Montesquieu and Rousseau.

Mexican parade

Fast forward to the next millennium, and every September 16th, Mexicans gather together to celebrate their independence from colonial rulers and the birth of their great nation. The entire month of September is one big party, with Mexicans dubbing September ‘Mes de la Patria’, or ‘The Month of Our Nation’. Decorations light up the streets of every city and town, with the biggest festivities taking place on, of course, September 16th in each city or town’s main square or plaza. Everything from national flags and balloons to sombreros are sold by vendors and, like any celebration worth its salt, food plays a big part in the action, too. Finger foods, called ‘antojitos’, as well as Mexican sweets and punch are sold, with the prime punch to plump for being called ‘ponche’, and made with local fruits such as guayaba and apples, as well as sugarcane. Mexico’s town squares fill up with the aroma of ponche during September. Of course, traditional Mexican dishes like guacamole and a whole lot of beans pop up on the festive menu too.

Mexican food

Mexican Independence Day is a time for Mexicans of all ages to celebrate, and Mexicans proudly don national costume the night before the main celebrations, on September 15th. Indigenous dress is worn by most people, but failing that, people dress in the colours of the nation’s flag – green, white and red. Live music is a big part of the celebrations, with mariachi bands doing their thing, and crowds clamouring to add their own perhaps not-so-melodious contributions to the cacophony, which comes to a head at around eleven o’clock at night. At this time, a government official arrives in the square, and he or she bellows out the ‘grito’, or the Cry of Independence. The grito is a recreation of the start of the Mexican War of Independence.

If you find yourself in Mexico in September, head to the nearest town square and get swept away in the atmosphere that accompanies the celebration of this passionate nation’s birth – and leave room in your stomach and be prepared to party.

Mexican parade

Celebrating Mexican Independence Day