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As a country, Mexico is extremely rich when it comes to cultural celebrations; it can feel like every month brings a new reason to sing, dance, and eat well.
But out of all the festivals, carnivals, and religious celebrations, none come close to the electric atmosphere that jolts through the nation each year to commemorate Mexico’s independence from Spain.
An Electric Kickoff
Mexican independence is celebrated on the 16th of September each year, but it’s all kicked off on the night of the 15th of September when huge crowds gather in local town squares and out the front of city halls to recreate the “cry of Dolores”.
This spine-tingling tradition is an experience worth the airfare alone. As the clock strikes midnight, thousands of people begin chanting, “Viva Mexico! Viva la Independencia!”.
In true warm Mexican fashion, travelers are encouraged to feel more than welcome to join this celebration and are encouraged to don the patriotic colors of the Mexican flag, green, white, and red, to truly get in the spirit.
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A Carnival Atmosphere
While everything kicks off on the 15th, it’s the next day when the party really gets into gear.
For Cancun, Tulum Avenue is where the majority of celebrations will take place. A colorful and lively parade will work its way for this important part of Cancun, delighting travelers and providing a superb spectacle that is not soon forgotten.
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In this parade, there are people dressed in clothing from the days of the fight for Mexican independence, with everything from traditional charro cowboy attire worn by men on horseback to the battle uniforms of the Mexican independence fighters.
Mexican folk dancers will also play a role throughout the parade, only adding to the cultural richness of this truly special spectacle.
Mexican 4th of July
American travelers shouldn’t be surprised to experience a feeling of cultural kinship when experiencing Mexican Independence Day.
Just like the 4th of July, there is no shortage of fireworks and patriotic citizens showing their love for their country and flag.
But deeper than that, the United States and Mexico have a lot in common when considering their history.
Both were colonized by European empires that sought to rule from across the Atlantic. In both, the people eventually rose up and staked their claim for independence and the right to self-determination through bloody battles and a desire to be free.
Even the full names of both countries show similarities; the United States of America isn’t neighbors with Mexico; it’s neighbors with the United Mexican States.
This kinship is something that is healthy to experience firsthand. Celebrating each other’s freedoms and history is a powerful way to connect with our neighbors in the world.
How Mexico Gained Its Independence
To celebrate this important day, it’s important to understand the history of it.
The Mexican War of Independence began on the 16th of September 1810, when Miguel Hidalgo, a priest in the Catholic church, rang the church bells in the town of Dolores (where the “cry of Dolores” gets its name) and issued a call to arms against Spanish colonial rule.
The Mexican people were unhappy with Spanish colonial exploitation, unequal social structures, high taxes, and limited opportunities for Mexican-born individuals.
One of the big driving factors in the decision to fight for independence was the successful independence movements in other parts of the world, especially the United States, just 30 years earlier, which encouraged Mexican citizens and their leaders to seek self-determination.
The war raged on for 10 long years and inflicted heavy casualties on both sides. The road to independence for Mexico was hard fought and ended on the 27th of September, 1821, when the Spanish authorities and Mexican independence leaders signed the Treaty of Córdoba, recognizing Mexico as an independent nation.
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