Mexican Independence Day: A celebration dear to Mexicans in the US
Mexico's Independence Day, celebrated on Sept. 16, is commonly confused with the U.S.-centric celebration of "Cinco de Mayo" — even by people who identify as Mexican.
While there is a historical connection between the state of Arizona and Mexico reflected in the 89% of its population of Mexican origin, according to data from the UCLA Latino Policy Institute, those who grew up and were educated in Mexico maintain different memories of how and when Mexico's independence is celebrated.
With celebrations taking place throughout the United States, and especially in Arizona, here's what you need to know about how the fight for independence in Mexico began, and how that celebration has transcended borders more than 200 years later.
Mexican Independence Day 2023: Your ultimate guide to celebrating in the Phoenix area and around Arizona
How is Independence Day celebrated in Mexico?
September is known as the patriotic month in Mexico since the 16th commemorates the beginning of the fight for independence against Spanish forces, who controlled the country for more than 300 years.
As the days go by, the streets fill with street vendors selling Mexican flags of different sizes, rattles, and typical clothing — folkloric skirts, peasant blouses, shawls, zarapes and huaraches.
In schools, classrooms are decorated with green, white and red papel picado, and patriotic parties are organized where students gather to share Mexican dishes and watch ballet folklórico.
What is 'El Grito de Dolores'? How the fight began
This celebration is characterized by the performance of “El Grito de Dolores” — "grito" meaning battle cry — inspired in the early morning of Sept. 16, 1810, when the Catholic priest Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla rang the bells of his parish and called on the Mexican population to take up arms against the Spanish authorities in a fight that would last 11 years.
Every year, a performance of the battle cry is carried out in the National Palace located in Mexico's capital. Inside the building in the Ambassadors Hall, a military escort made up of students from the Heroic Military College delivers the flag to the current president of Mexico while the national anthem plays.
Later, the president approaches the balcony and addresses the attendees in the Zócalo esplanade to ring out the same cry, which includes the names of the heroes of independence, such as Miguel Hidalgo, José María Morelos y Pavón, Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez and Ignacio Allende.
Cities and organizations around the country plan events focused on this celebration for people to come together and learn about Mexican culture.
How is Mexican Independence Day celebrated in the US?
For the second consecutive year, the Mexican Consulate in Phoenix will hold the "El Grito" ceremony at the Arizona Capitol.
The General Consulate of Mexico, located in major cities such as Las Vegas, New York and Miami, also organizes community events that feature a performance of the battle cry. Similarly, several universities, media groups and local organizations prepare events throughout cities where large concentrations of Mexicans reside.
From El Grito ceremonies and concerts featuring famous Mexican musicians to art exhibitions and festivals for the whole family, the day is always commemorated in a massive way and usually aims to educate and emphasize the importance of the date for those who reside in the United States.
According to Irasema Coronado, director of the School of Transborder Studies at Arizona State University, in this state, there is a reciprocity of traditions between generations of Mexicans living in the United States and an exchange of cultures thanks to the geographical proximity to Mexico.
“A lot of people who come from Mexico and who were socialized and educated in Mexico obviously have a different connection with Mexican holidays because they grew up with them, just as we grew up with the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Presidents Day. That becomes part of who we are and what we know," Coronado said. "But some of the more recent (Mexican American) generations and some of the younger ones don't have the same type of identification with those holidays" because they didn't grow up with them.
Mexican Independence Day vs. Cinco de Mayo
In the United States, there is great confusion about when Independence Day is actually celebrated in Mexico, according to Coronado.
“May 5 has become a completely commercialized holiday to celebrate in a big way, right? There are even people who tell you, 'Have a happy Cinco de Mayo,' and that is not at all part of the reason why May 5th is celebrated. It is a very misunderstood holiday and I think Sept. 16 is the same.”
While in the United States, May 5 has become a day to celebrate Mexican culture, in Mexico this holiday is small. Also known as the “Battle of Puebla,” it commemorates the battle won against the French troops that invaded the country in 1862 in an attempt to establish their empire in Mexican territory.
Another celebration that is also combined with that of Mexican independence is Hispanic Heritage Month, which is commemorated in the United States between Sept. 15 and Oct. 15.
Throughout the month, people organize events that celebrate the achievements, traditions and stories of people of Latino or Hispanic origin.
This month has been recognized as a holiday by law since 1968 thanks to President Lyndon Johnson. During these days, the anniversary of the independence of several Latin American countries, such as Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico, are celebrated.
Coronado said it's up to Latinos of Mexican origin to study the history of the United States and Mexico to understand the importance of the connection between these two countries and educate others on the importance of accurately celebrating Mexico's origins.
Cultural celebrations: Why does Hispanic Heritage Month start in the middle of September?
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: When is Mexico's Independence Day? No, it's not on Cinco de Mayo
