Mexican Independence Day

Mexican Independence Day or Mexican Independence Night. What is celebrated on the 15th and what on the 16th. When is Mexican day?

Mexican Independence Day or Mexican Independence Night. What is celebrated on the 15th and what on the 16th. When the Mexican Independence Day is, which is one of the most important festivities in Mexico, filled with civic events, parades, traditional music, typical food, and a deep expression of national pride.

¡Viva México Cabrones!

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When is Mexican Independence Day?

The Independence of Mexico began at dawn on September 16, 1810, however, it was recognized until September 27, 1821. In other words, its consummation took 11 years and was a period with countless battles and deaths, betrayals and executions, enactments and treaties.

What is Celebrated on September 15th?

On September 15th in Mexico, the Grito de Independencia (Cry of Independence) is celebrated, a historic event that marks the beginning of Mexico’s fight for independence from Spanish rule. The celebration commemorates the moment when Miguel Hidalgo, a Catholic priest, gave the famous “Cry of Dolores” in the early hours of September 16, 1810, urging the people to rise up in arms against the colonial government.

Although the official date of the Grito is September 16, the celebration usually begins on the night of September 15, when the President of the Republic and other local leaders reenact the “Cry” from the balconies of government buildings, such as the National Palace in Mexico City. The ceremony includes the waving of the Mexican flag, cheers for the heroes of independence, and fireworks.

Mexican Independence Day 2024

Mexican Independence Day Characters

During this 11-year period, many of the heroes and villains we know today were formed. Some of the heroes are: Miguel Hidalgo, José María Morelos, Miguel Domínguez, Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez, Vicente Guerrero, Francisco Javier Mina, Nicolás Bravo, Juan Aldama, Ignacio Allende, Mariano Matamoros, Guadalupe Victoria, Leona Vicario and Andrés Quintana Roo among others. In Mexico, you can find many streets called with their names.

Mexican National Day

Although the holiday for the Mexican Independence Day is on September 16, Mexicans celebrate their independence on the night of the 15th, which is call “Mexican Night.” On the night of September 15, Mexicans recreated the call that priest Miguel Hidalgo made to the people of Mexico to take up arms and fight for Independence. We call this act of taking up arms and started the war of independence “Grito de Independencia.”

The “Grito de Independencia” is also called “Grito de Dolores.” This is because Miguel Hidalgo made the call to take up arms in the town of Dolores, Guanajuato State. In this place, the priest Hidalgo rang the bells of his church during the early hours of September 16.

What at the time was believed to be another rebellion started by another group of Creoles dissatisfied with the Viceroyalty, became the symbol of the armed struggle throughout the entire Mexican territory, ultimately achieving the Independence of Mexico from Spain.

Mexican Independence Day Facts

But what were some of the factors that influenced the start of the war and the consummation of independence?

First, it must be said that the War of Independence was a consequence of the political and social deterioration that existed in the country. At the beginning, the fight was led by Miguel Hidalgo, who was a Creole priest, but with strong support from workers, farm laborers, miners and indigenous peoples; who in addition to independence sought other demands such as equal rights, better working conditions and the end of slavery.

The independence of Mexico ended 300 years of Spanish occupation, which began on August 13, 1521 with the fall of the Aztec empire by the hands of Hernán Cortés and his indigenous allies.

Another important factor, but little mentioned, was the fact that the Spanish crown itself influenced independence ideas. During the 18th century, the Bourbon kings promoted a process of modernization of New Spain. Modernization was based on the way of thinking known as Enlightenment. This system of values was what ultimately fed the liberal and independence ideas in the colony.

The independence movement in Mexico was also motivated by the already achieved Independence of the United States of America in 1776 and the French Revolution in 1789.

Finally, with the French occupation of Spain in 1808, when Kings Carlos IV and Fernando VII abdicated in favor Napoleon Bonaparte, who, in turn, left the crown of Spain to his brother José Bonaparte, the independence movements began throughout Latin America.

Between 1808 and 1810, with the lack of a king, there were several coup attempts in Mexico, all perpetrated by Creole conspirators who sought to remove the Spanish from power.

It is the Mexican Independence Day, but other countries of Latioamerica celebrate its independence too.

Mexican Independence Day, Conspiracy of 1810

All attempts had failed until the Querétaro conspiracy, which would ultimately lead to the uprising in arms on September 16. The Querétaro conspiracy was organized by Ignacio Allende, Mariano Abasolo, Miguel Domínguez, Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez, Miguel Hidalgo and Juan Aldama.

September 15, 1810

During the early morning of September 16, priest Miguel Hidalgo called for the fight for the Independence of Mexico. At the beginning Miguel Hidalgo added many triumphs against the forces loyal to the Spanish crown, however, over time the independence movement was adding only defeats, to the point where there were only dispersed guerrillas throughout the country.

In 1820 there was a change in the position of New Spain society in New Spain. The Creole monarchists decided to support independence and sought to ally themselves with the insurgent resistance. Agustín de Iturbide, who led the military arm of the conspirators, and Vicente Guerrero, who led the insurgents, proclaimed the Plan of Iguala at the beginning of 1821. With this plan the independence of Mexico was agreed as of September 27, 1821.

In 1821, New Spain became the Mexican Empire and in 1823 it became a federal republic, also it was separated from Central America. Spain recognized the independence of Mexico until 1836, after the death of the monarch Fernando VII.

September 15 Mexican Independence Day

Some important data before, during and after the War of Independence.

All the independence movements were initiated by Creoles from New Spain, so it is believed that more than helping the people of New Spain, they only sought political benefit.

The independence movement grew due to social deterioration, inequality and persistent slavery for 300 years in the territory.

The Independence of Mexico would not have been achieved in 1821, if entities and characters that initially opposed it, ultimately supported it. Entities such as the church and the militia, and characters such as Agustín de Iturbide, to whom the final agreements for the consummation of Independence are attributed.