The Cry of Dolores / The Shout of Mexican Independence
Did You Know “Cinco de Mayo” isn’t Mexico’s Independence Day?
Although May 5th, Cinco de Mayo is often mistaken for Mexican Independence Day, it’s actually not! It’s a celebration of the Mexican Army’s unlikely victory over the French Empire. The real Mexican Independence Day is September 16th! The Shout of Independence, or also known as the Cry of Dolores, is the celebration of the independence of Mexico from Spain.
In Mexico, the President, the State governors, and the municipal agents are required by law to give the Cry of Independence on the night of September 15th of each year. This is to simulate what the priest Miguel Hidalgo did back in 1810. On the night of September 15, 1810, he rang the bell of his church in order to call the crowd to rise up in arms against the Spanish crown. This event led to the Mexican War of Independence. Therefore, he is considered the father of Mexican independence.
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An Interesting Fact about the Cry for Independence Ceremony
The bell that the President of Mexico rings during the Cry for Independence each year is the same one the priest Miguel Hidalgo rang on the night of Dolores over 200 years ago! It is pretty amazing how long they’ve been using the same bell.
Want to read in Spanish? Here’s what Luis says about Mexican Independence Day…
El Grito de Independencia
El grito de Independencia o también conocido como grito de Dolores es un festejo con motivo de la independencia de México antes Nueva España del Reino de España. En México tanto el Presidente, los gobernadores de cada estado y los agentes municipales de cada región están obligados por ley en la constitución de dar el grito de independencia la noche del 15 de septiembre de cada ano. Simulando lo ocurrido con el cura Miguel Hidalgo, considerado el padre de la independencia de México.
La noche en Dolores el llamo a la multitud una noche para levantarse en armas en contra de la corona Española, tomando un estandarte de la Virgen de Guadalupe que se encontraba en el interior de su parroquia. Debido a este histórico evento se construyo el inicio de un México independiente. En la actualidad la campana que hace sonar el Presidente de México durante el grito de independencia es la misma que el cura Miguel Hidalgo usó en la noche de Dolores para levantarse en armas en contra de España.