Kitchens across Mexico are busy this week as families prepare for one of the country’s most important holidays: the anniversary of independence. Homes are filling with the smell of pozole (a hearty hominy and meat stew), tostadas, grilled corn on the cob known as elotes, tamales, and other traditional dishes that are staples of the celebration.
The festivities commemorate the night of September 15-16, 1809, when priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla issued his famous “Grito” (cry) in the town of Dolores, calling on the Mexican people to rise up in arms against Spanish colonial rule. That call marked the beginning of Mexico’s long fight for independence, and this year the country marks 216 years since that pivotal moment.
Every September, Mexicans reenact the tradition with their own version of the Grito, gathering in town squares, at home with family, or in front of the television to shout “¡Viva México!” alongside fireworks, mariachi music, and displays of the green, white, and red national colors. The holiday is considered one of the most patriotic dates on the Mexican calendar, comparable in spirit to the Fourth of July in the United States, and is celebrated both in Mexico and among Mexican communities abroad.
To see how families and communities are getting ready for this year’s celebrations, watch the original video report from Telemundo.
Source: Así se preparan los mexicanos para celebrar el 216 aniversario de su independencia (telemundo.com).
Image: 16:9clue, BY 2.0 (via Openverse).