Streets in the heart of Mexico City filled with families early in the morning as thousands gathered to watch the annual military parade honoring Mexico’s Independence Day. Parents brought children bundled in the green, white, and red of the national flag, staking out spots along the parade route hours before the procession began.
The holiday commemorates the start of Mexico’s war for independence from Spain, launched on September 16, 1810, when priest Miguel Hidalgo issued his famous call to arms known as the “Grito de Dolores.” Each year, the anniversary is marked with a large-scale display of the armed forces, featuring soldiers marching in formation, military vehicles, and flyovers, all watched closely by spectators lining the sidewalks and balconies overlooking the route.
For many of the families present, the parade has become something of a tradition in itself, a chance to pass on a sense of national pride to younger generations while enjoying a rare day when downtown streets are closed to traffic and given over entirely to celebration. Vendors selling flags, snacks, and souvenirs added to the festive atmosphere as the crowds waited for the procession to pass.
To read the full story and see how the day unfolded, check out the original report at jornada.com.mx.
Source: Día de la Independencia: familias enteras llenan las calles para presenciar el Desfile Militar (jornada.com.mx). English version produced with AI assistance.
Image: congresochile, BY 2.0 (via Openverse).