Mexican Independence Day
On the eve of September 16, Mexicans across the country celebrated the its independence from Spain. Mexico’s Independence Day celebrations commemorate the moment in 1810 when Miguel Hidalgo made the cry for independence (El Grito de la Independencia or El Grito de Dolores), which led to the Mexican people revolting against 300 years of Spanish rule.In non-pandemic times, the festivities are marked with flags, fireworks and fiestas. In central squares across the country, including Carrillo, people traditionally congregate for a re-enactment of El Grito de Dolores. The local governors ring a bell shouting out iViva! followed by a list of important people in history and causes close to the Mexican people with a final iViva Mexico! Then, at the end, the bell is rung several times, the Mexican flag is waved, the fireworks start, and celebrations begin. The evening would then be filled with live bands, traditional dancing and firework displays with the party lasting into the next day. September 16, a public holiday and Mexico’s Independence Day (Día de la Independencia de México), is usually filled with parades and family gatherings.This year, due to the pandemic, Carrillo’s public festivities were canceled. Nonetheless, this did not stop people celebrating by hanging Mexican flags outside their homes and watching President Andrés Manuel López Obrador giving the traditional cries on TV to an empty Mexico City Zócalo (centra plaza).
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