How Do People Celebrate Mexican Independence Day
How Do People Celebrate Mexican Independence Day – Mexican Independence Day Traditions
There are more than one answers to the question: How do people celebrate the Mexican Independence Day because the Mexicans and the Mexican Americans celebrate the Mexican Independence Day in the United States as well as in Mexico and any other country they may find themselves in on the September 16th.
Mexican Independence Day is one of the most important Mexican holidays because that day represents the birth of the Mexican nation and freedom for all of the Mexican citizens.
On the September 16, 1810 Father Miguel Hidalgo (the father of Mexican independence) stood in front of his people and invited them to stand up against the tyranny of the Spanish king and to fight for their freedom.
The Mexican war of independence lasted for ten long years and it caused a lot of suffering to the Mexicans that fought for their right to be free and to govern their own country.
On August 24, 1821 the Mexican leaders and the representatives of the Spanish crown signed the Treaty of Cordoba and the Mexican nation was officially born.
After signing the Treaty of Cordoba Mexico became an independent country and ever since the September 16 is celebrated as the Mexican Independence Day.
The shortest answer to the question: How do people celebrate Mexican Independence Day is that they celebrate it with traditional Mexican clothing, authentic Mexican food, traditional Mexican drinks, and of course the Mexican music and dance.
However, to answer the above question correctly and fully first thing you should know is that there are many Mexicans and Mexican Americans that celebrate Mexican Independence Day but the celebration of the Mexican Independence Day is much different in the United States from the celebration in Mexico.
How Do People Celebrate Mexican Independence Day in Mexico?
In Mexico the Mexican Independence Day is the most important national holiday and everybody celebrates the Mexican independence, including the Mexican president and all the Governors of the 31 Mexican states who take the active part in the celebration.
Every square in every Mexican village, town and city is decorated with Mexican national colors (green, white and red), Mexican flags, balloons, and light decorations.
Mexican people that gather in the squares often have some peace of traditional Mexican clothing. Most often that is the Mexican Independence Sombrero (the traditional Mexican hat with large brim colored in national Mexican colors).
Some Mexican women wear the traditional Mexican dress known as the Mexican peasant dress which is decorated with beautiful traditional Mexican embroidery.
Also, some men are dressed in a Mexican macho stile (traditional Mexican pants, poncho and the sombrero) which is synonymous for the Mexican rebellious spirit.
A side from the traditional Mexican clothing and decoration the big part of the Mexican Independence Day celebration is the authentic Mexican food, drinks and music.
The Mexican food that is served in the Mexican streets can be best described as a variety of finger foods, which means the food is quite simple but delicious.
The most popular Mexican beverage on that day is the Mexican punch which is a traditional Mexican drink made of fruits and often spiced with tequila. Of course the tequila is also very popular during the Mexican Independence Day celebration as well as the famous Mexican beer like the Corona and Sol.
Each year on the night of September 15 at exactly 11 pm the Mexican president goes out onto the balcony of the National Palace in Mexico City rings the liberty bell (the same bell that Father Hidalgo rang in 1810) and cries out the words of the Grito to the Mexican people gathered in the square below who respond with Viva.
Viva our heroes that gave us our freedom!
Viva!
Viva our father Hidalgo!
Viva!
Viva our Independence!
Viva!
Viva Mexico!
Viva!
This same Grito (the Cry) is echoed by the Governors of each Mexican state in front of the crowds gathered in the main squares.
This event marks the beginning of the Mexican Independence Day which is the September 16th.
Important thing to note is that it is common for the non-Mexicans that live in the United States to mistake the Cinco de Mayo holiday (that takes place on the fifth of May) with the Mexican Independence Day.
Also, there are many non-Mexicans that mistake the September 15th for the Mexican Independence Day because the Mexican president rings the liberty bell on the eve of the September 15th.
How Do People Celebrate Mexican Independence Day in United States?
The celebration of the Mexican Independence in the United States is much different than in Mexico for the obvious reasons. However, even though there is no official celebration millions of Mexicans and Mexican Americans that live and work in the United States celebrate this major Mexican holiday.
The Mexican neighborhoods are decorated with the Mexican flags and balloons in white, red, and green which are the national Mexican colors.
Some Mexican neighborhoods even organize the celebration of the Mexican Independence in such way that you would feel as if you are in Mexico rather than in the United States.
This means that you would find yourself in the middle of the Mexican fiesta where people around you are dressed in the traditional Mexican clothing and dance to the Mexican music.
You would also have an opportunity to eat the authentic Mexican food and drink all kinds of different Mexican beverages including the most famous traditional Mexican drink (Tequila), Mexican beer, vine and of course the Mexican punch.
Those Mexicans and Mexican Americans that dont take part in the neighborhood fiestas stay at home and celebrate the Mexican Independence day in the company of their family members and friends.
Now you understand better why the question: How do people celebrate Mexican Independence Day, has more than one answer.
