Today is Independence Day in Mexico. The country is now 198 years old. Sort of. On September 16, 1821 Miguel Hidalgo, the curate of Dolares, made his Cry for Independence or Girto de Dolares. In his speech Hidalgo spoke of insurrection and rebellion. Hidalgo demanded the end of slavery, equality among men, land reform, and an end to state monopolies over gunpoweder and tobacco. The revolution had just begun, however. Spain laid siege to Guadalajara. Hidalgo was captured in Chihuahua, and executed on July 30, 1811. Hidalgo’s disciple, a priest named Maria Morelos y Pavon waged a campaign until he was imprisoned and executed in 1815. It was only when a Spanish commander, Agustin de Iturbide, defected and joined Vicente Gurrero, that Spain relinquished Mexico. Guerrero and Iturbide, who would later become emperor, announced the Plan of Iguala, which made Roman Catholicism the only recognized religion, made all Mexican citizens equal, and established a constitutional monarchy. The Treat of Cordoba officially converted New Spain into Mexico on August 24, 1821. But Iturbide didn’t last long either. Only a year later General Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana betrayed him, and executed him as well.
Like most national celebrations, Mexico’s Independence Day is inconsistent with history. The United States celebrates independence on July 4. But most of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence didn’t sign in Philadelphia that day. They signed it over the ensuing months. In fact, the declaration didn’t make America independent. It would be more than five years before Gen. Washington and Pierre Laffeyete surrounded General Cornwallis at Yorktown. That day was October 17 1781. The Treat of Paris, which formally recognized America, wasn’t signed until September 3 1783. Likewise, Bastille Day in France, July 14, wasn’t celebrated as a national holiday until 1880. Perhaps because other events such as September 22, 1792, the actual founding of the French Republic, or August 26, 1789, the day the Declaration of the Rights of Man was adopted, were more important and symbolic.
I’ve already established that September 16 has little historical significance. But its symbolism is what Mexicans celebrate. And celebrate they do. Not only is September 16 a national holiday, but September 15 is too. Here in Sahauyo, there were festivals every night on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. Men wore sombreros, and as you can see in the photo, so did the next generation of Mexicans. Women wore elaborate dresses. The people celebrated their history, their cuisine, their music, and their culture. The whole town congregated at Miguel Hidalgo plaza. It rained on Monday, and the power went out for awhile, but the parades continued.
Even though the Mexican revolution did nothing to alleiviate the problems that afflicted the country and burdened the population, at least Mexico can say that it has gone longer without a violent overthrow of the government than any other country in Latin America. 2010 will mark 100 years of the peaceful transfer of power in Mexico.
Like most national celebrations, Mexico’s Independence Day is inconsistent with history. The United States celebrates independence on July 4. But most of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence didn’t sign in Philadelphia that day. They signed it over the ensuing months. In fact, the declaration didn’t make America independent. It would be more than five years before Gen. Washington and Pierre Laffeyete surrounded General Cornwallis at Yorktown. That day was October 17 1781. The Treat of Paris, which formally recognized America, wasn’t signed until September 3 1783. Likewise, Bastille Day in France, July 14, wasn’t celebrated as a national holiday until 1880. Perhaps because other events such as September 22, 1792, the actual founding of the French Republic, or August 26, 1789, the day the Declaration of the Rights of Man was adopted, were more important and symbolic.
I’ve already established that September 16 has little historical significance. But its symbolism is what Mexicans celebrate. And celebrate they do. Not only is September 16 a national holiday, but September 15 is too. Here in Sahauyo, there were festivals every night on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. Men wore sombreros, and as you can see in the photo, so did the next generation of Mexicans. Women wore elaborate dresses. The people celebrated their history, their cuisine, their music, and their culture. The whole town congregated at Miguel Hidalgo plaza. It rained on Monday, and the power went out for awhile, but the parades continued.
Even though the Mexican revolution did nothing to alleiviate the problems that afflicted the country and burdened the population, at least Mexico can say that it has gone longer without a violent overthrow of the government than any other country in Latin America. 2010 will mark 100 years of the peaceful transfer of power in Mexico.
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