Hello, friends and lovers of Mexican gastronomy and culture! In this post we are going to talk about the celebration of the National Holiday in September that commemorates the anniversary of the call for independence. Historians say that in the early morning of September 16, 1810, the priest Miguel Hidalgo Costilla rang the bells of the church of Dolores Hidalgo, calling the people to rebel against Spanish rule.
As we all know, when Hernán Cortés overthrew Tenochtitlan in 1521, the territories that today comprise Mexico, Central America and the southern United States passed into Spanish hands.
The history of Mexico's independence began one early morning in the town of Dolores Hidalgo under the command of the priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, along with Ignacio Allende and General Juan Aldama. On September 27, 1821, with the Plan de Iguala, proclaimed by Austin de Iturbide and Vicente Guerrero, Mexico's independence was finally achieved.
In 1845, President Antonio López de Santa Anna officially celebrated the "Rito del Grito" (rite of the calling) to honor the priest Hidalgo and the heroes who fought for independence. He stipulated that the ceremony should be held at 11:00 p.m. on September 15 of each year.
Years later, the Angel of Independence, designed by architect Antonio Rivas, was inaugurated on September 16, 1910.
Every year, on September 15, Mexico celebrates the so-called "Grito de Dolores" (Cry of Dolores). A movement that would lead to the independence of Mexico and several Central American countries. All public squares in the country celebrate this day by repeating part of Miguel Hidalgo's proclamation, while ringing the bell. The Fiesta del Grito, as it is commonly known, takes place at 11 p.m. and includes fireworks and mariachi music. The country's most important celebration takes place in Mexico City's Zócalo, where the president steps out onto the balcony of the National Palace to preside over the ceremony, which is attended by more than 200,000 people each year.
The celebrations are accompanied by gastronomy, which has become typical of this holiday: corn is the main protagonist of the national celebrations. Traditional Fiestas Patrias dishes are: pozole, pambazos, beef or chicken tinga, tamales, quesadillas, mole, tostadas, enchiladas and pancita.
Let us know in the comments what dishes you cook at home to celebrate "El Grito de Dolores"? and stop by our traditional Mexican food and drinks section to see all the variety we have to offer you to celebrate these national holidays.
