Independence Day

Mexico’s Independence Day, celebrated officially on September 16, commemorates the beginning of the struggle against Spanish colonial rule. On the night of September 15, 1810, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a parish priest in the town of Dolores in Guanajuato, called upon the local population to rise against the colonial government. This appeal, remembered as the Grito de Dolores, marked the start of an eleven-year conflict that ultimately led to Mexico’s independence in 1821. Although the precise words spoken by Hidalgo are uncertain, the event became a foundational moment in Mexican national history.

The movement grew through the leadership of figures including José María Morelos, Vicente Guerrero, and other insurgents, combining demands for political autonomy with opposition to social inequality and colonial privilege. Mexico’s independence was formally achieved in 1821 through the Plan of Iguala and the entry of the Army of the Three Guarantees into Mexico City. The holiday therefore honors not a single declaration alone, but the long and complex process by which New Spain became an independent nation. September 16 has been observed as a national holiday since the nineteenth century and remains one of Mexico’s most important civic commemorations.

The principal celebrations begin on the evening of September 15, when crowds gather in town squares and city centers for music, dancing, fireworks, and public festivities. Shortly before midnight, the president performs the Grito de Independencia from the National Palace in Mexico City, while governors and mayors conduct similar ceremonies throughout the country. The official ritual invokes national heroes and ends with repeated cries of “¡Viva México!” and the ringing of a bell, recalling the traditional image of Hidalgo summoning the people of Dolores. September 16 features military and civic parades, patriotic ceremonies, and family gatherings.

Mexican flags, green-white-and-red decorations, mariachi performances, folk dances, and regional music are central to the atmosphere. Families and communities commonly prepare festive foods such as pozole, chiles en nogada, tamales, tostadas, pambazos, enchiladas, and antojitos, accompanied by aguas frescas or traditional drinks. People often wear clothing in the national colors or regional dress, and homes, schools, and public buildings display the flag. Common greetings include “¡Viva México!” and “¡Felices fiestas patrias!”; “¡Feliz Día de la Independencia!” is also widely understood, although September 15 is popularly associated with the eve celebration and September 16 is the official national holiday.