Independence Day of Mexico

Viva Mexico!The Independence Day of Mexico is always celebrated with great scope. But this holiday has its own little secret: no one will tell you why the official part of congratulations and festivities begin on the evening of September 15, although, according to the facts, the uprising of the people of Mexico began on the morning of the 16th. Most likely, it is timed to the day of St. Porphyrios (a Greek saint who lived in the IV century AD), and on September 15, President Porfirio Diaz was born.

September 15, 1910. It hit 11 p.m. President Porfirio Diaz enters the main balcony of the National Palace and rings the same bell that Father Hidalgo rang exactly 100 years ago. As the echoes scattered over Mexico City’s central square, the president shouted greetings: “Long life to the Heroes of the Nation!”, “Long life to the Republic!” And a thousand voices echoed him, "Viva!"

The history of this holiday goes back to the XIX century. Mexico has long been a Spanish colony. When the French invaded Spain, the Mexican lands automatically fell into Napoleon’s hands. The Mexicans, who had previously tried to “discard” the Spanish yoke, this time rebelled for real. One of the main ideologists of the struggle for independence was Father Hidalgo. At dawn on September 16, he rang the church bell, calling the people of Mexico to revolt. Unfortunately, fate has prepared Hidalgo an unenviable fate. A few months later, in July 1811, he was captured by the Inquisition and executed. But by then, a wave of liberation had swept most of Mexico.

This was unprecedented. In terms of the popularity of the heroes who fought hard to defend the right to independence of Mexico, the scale of this war could be compared only with the uprising of black slaves in Santo Domingo in 1801 or with the Indian revolt in Peru in 1781.

The struggle for independence lasted 11 years. And it ended with a Mexican victory. On September 29, 1821, Mexico declared its independence.

Few now remember where this almost sacred tradition of shouting “Viva Mexico” came from. According to witnesses of the events of almost two hundred years ago, Father Hidalgo, calling for struggle, shouted: “Death to unworthy Spaniards!” Long live Maria of Guadalupe! (¡Mueran los gachupines! Viva la Virgen de Guadalupe!). Over time, like everything in life, this was forgotten and today, instead of a battle cry, these words have turned into a peaceful patriotic exclamation.

Today, every year on the night of September 15-16, performances are played in all central city squares of Mexico, illustrating the history of the struggle of the Mexican people for independence. National flags are displayed on the corners of buildings, houses and cars. On the main square of Mexico City in this special for all evening from all over the metropolis gather Mexicans in national costumes (men in “charros”, and women in “poblanas”). Maryachi play funny melodies, photographers offer tourists to shoot in a Mexican sombrero riding a wooden horse. By 11 o'clock, representatives of the government headed by the President arrive at the square for congratulations. On the roof of the National Palace, where the office of the President of the Republic is located, there is the same bell that Father Hidalgo once rang. And its ringing from year to year flies over the city on the night of September 16.

The holiday reaches a climax when the crowd begins to proudly shout the names of national heroes, and soon a thundering "Viva Mexico" flies over the developing flags, and the sky is painted in the colors of a festive salute.