El Grito of September 16th!
Brian and I have had the pleasure of visiting the birth
place of Mexico’s
independence, the cities of Guanajuato and Dolores Hidalgo. They are absolutely incredible places where the years
of history and culture become a part of you with El Grito (the shout) ringing
in your ears!
After conquering the great Aztec empire, Spain ruled over Mexico for 300 years. Fed up by the
oppression of the privileged of Spain,
the concept of a revolt began to take shape.
Led by Father Hidalgo of the town of Dolores and Ignacio Allende of the town San
Miguel, the revolt grew in numbers bringing together the different
classes. The movement had planned to
begin the war for independence on October 2nd, 1810 but their plans
were discovered in early September and the revolt was in trouble.
In the early hours of September 16, 1810, Father Hidalgo rang the bell of
his church in Dolores, calling for the people to come and fight for liberty and
independence. This became known as “El Grito”, the shout for
independence. It is this moment that is
celebrated and re-enacted in every zócalo (plaza) of Mexico on September 16th. A government official in every community
arrives in the zócalo on September 15th at 11 PM to give the Grito
and ring the bell, just like Father Hidalgo
called his followers in Dolores, Guanajuato.
The original bell that was rung by Father Hidalgo
now hangs atop the Palacio
Nacional in Mexico City
and is rung every September 16th as the President of Mexico gives
the Grito.
Viva Mexico…Viva Independencia!!!!!