Today is Mexican Independence Day. Also known as ‘Día de la Independencia’ or ‘Grito de Dolores’, it marks the anniversary of the Mexican War of Independence against Spain on September 16th 1810.
Specifically, it commemorates a proclamation by Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla on September 16th 1810, in the village of Dolores, near Guanajuato. Hidalgo’s proclamation called for an end to Spanish rule in Mexico, encouraging rebellion and insurrection against the Spanish.
The Spanish Empire had been broken by Napoleon’s invasion of Spain, and imperial rule had been replaced by “juntas” in both Spain and the American colonies, while King Fernando VII was being held hostage by Napoleon.
Following his speech, Father Hidalgo raised an army and attempted to overthrow the Junta government, but he was eventually defeated. As his struggle against the establishment continued, he began to demand the full independence of all the Spanish American colonies, and the exile or arrest of all Spaniards within Mexico.
It was only after a ten year long War of Independence that Mexico’s independence was finally acknowledged by the Spanish viceroy on September 27th 1821.
Since the 1870s, re-enacting the proclamation has become a tradition. Every year, the national celebration begins on the night of September 15th. The Zócalo, one of the world’s largest city squares, serves as the focal point for the festivities in Mexico City, where over 500,000 people assemble each year.
The Mexican President rings Hidalgo’s bell (now kept at the National Palace in Mexico City) and repeats Hidalgo’s words at 11:00 pm on September 15th. The patriotic yell is met with an enthusiastic response of “Viva!” from the cheering throng. At the conclusion, spectacular pyrotechnics illuminate the night sky.
Today is the birthday, in 1950, of avid Bellamy, Bellamy Brothers, (1976 US No.1 single ‘Let Your Love Flow’, 1979 UK No.3 single ‘If I Said I Had A Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me’). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQ5aF7kbwCE
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