Mexico’s independence day lives strong in its roots

By Alejandra Ortega

Created:
09/15/09 11:19pm

Last updated:
09/15/09 11:19pm

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Sept. 16 is a day of great importance and history for Mexico. On this day, 199 years ago, Mexico declared its fight for independence from Spain. While most of us believe that the famous Cinco de Mayo marks the independence day, it actually marks the celebration of a famous battle against the French.

Mexico has a separate day to commemorate the long battle for freedom that roots as far back as the famous Hernán Cortés coming to shore of Tenochtitlán and demanding to be treated like a king by the Emperor Moctezuma II. Despite the physical and mental torture they faced, the people of Mexico survived to create the federal constitutional republic it is today.

Rather than naming their independence day “The 16th of September” like we call our independence day here in the U.S., Mexico refers to this day as “El Grito de Dolores,” which translates to “the cry of Dolores.” The name derives from the cry given by Miguel Hidalgo, a priest from the small town of Dolores, on the balcony of Parish of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores. This cry is known as the battle cry of the revolution.

Hidalgo and 10 others became frustrated with the way the people of Mexico were being treated and decided to plan a revolt. Unfortunately, they were betrayed. This, however, did not stop Hidalgo from declaring war on the Spaniards. Just before midnight, Hidalgo ordered the bells of the church to be rung and his congregation to gather in the plaza. Upon a balcony he cried “Long live our Lady of Guadalupe! Death to bad government and death to the Spaniards!” Hidalgo and his followers went to the streets in open revolt the following day.

Hidalgo went on to lead the start of the revolution until his capture and execution. José Morelos, a fellow priest to Hidalgo, took over as the revolutionary leader in the Mexican Independence movement. In his first nine months he won 22 battles and captured almost all of the state of Guerrero. However, he soon fell to the same fate as Hidalgo.

Vicente Gurrero was the next in line to take command of the troops. Unlike Hidalgo and Morelos, Gurrero succeeded in overthrowing the Spaniards in 1824. Now that Mexico was free of Spain they had to decide on a type of government. At first the ideas of making Mexico a complete monarchy of its own sounded like a good idea. However, when the new proclaimed emperor, Agustín de Iturbide, began to favor the wealthy, Gurrero overthrew him. After more arguing and problems Gurrero took over and changed the country to be a federal constitutional republic and became the first president of the United States of Mexico.

Now the people of Mexico recognize the events with the re-enactment of the cry in plazas across the country. The current president of the country re-enacts it on the independence celebration that lands on his final year in office. This is often followed by a parade.

If you thought you heard some cries in the night, you most certainly did.

Here at MSU, student groups such as Culturas de la Razas Unidas and MEXA are incorporating El Grito into their La Semana Latina, or their Latino Welcome Week. The rock on Farm Lane is painted with the Mexican flag for today’s celebration and at midnight the student organizations raised the flag and did the traditional Grito cry.

Wednesday night they will be hosting an El Cine del Poder: Film Viewing and Discussion, in the G-8 Room of Holden Hall at 7 p.m. Friday will finish their week off with Latino Greek Showcase at the Kedzie Courtyard at 7 p.m.

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About One World

Copy editor Alejandra Ortega writes about multicultural issues, the culture of other countries and interviews international students in her blog, One World.

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