El 16 de Septiembre es el día de la Independencia de México.

Los Mexicanos la celebramos en todas partes del mundo. Éste patriótico día conmemora el nacimiento de México como nación independiente. Todo inicia cuando Don Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla da el famoso ​“grito de Dolores”. Éste día se celebra con desfiles, decoraciones, comidas y canciones de un colorido México. Para conmemorar éste día histórico, le pedimos a un par de amigos Mexicanos que nos contaran cómo han celebrado la Independencia de México desde que eran pequeños, y qué consejos nos dan para celebrarla hoy.

September 16 is Mexican Independence Day. 

Celebrated by Mexicans all around the globe, this patriotic day commemorates the end of 300 years of Spanish rule in Mexico resulting from the ​“Cry of Dolores,” delivered by Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla calling for redistribution of land and racial equality. This day is celebrated with decorations and parades, the sights, sounds, and colors of vibrant Mexico. To commemorate such an historic day we reached out to a few friends of ours to find out what Mexican Independence Day looked like as they were growing up in Mexico, the ways they celebrated, and how we can honor the anniversary today.

Explore Q&As around personal celebrations of Mexican Independence Day with members of the PATRÓN Familia below. 

ESPAÑOL

Dinos qué significa El Día de la Independencia de México para ti:

Para mí, el 16 de Septiembre es un día de celebración. Significa el nacimiento de México. Reconocemos que somos un grupo de personas unidos bajo una misma Madre Patria, y estamos orgullos de Ella.

¿Qué haces para celebrarlo?

Normalmente me reúno con amigos y festejamos. Si estoy en México vamos a ​“dar el grito”, que significa ir a algún lugar donde algún gobernante repite las palabras que Hidalgo pronunció en Dolores en 1810, cuándo la Independencia de México comenzó. Cada vez que él pronuncia una frase, la gente grita “¡viva!”. A veces nos vestimos con trajes típicos o colores de La Bandera. Si estoy en Estados Unidos me gusta demostrar que soy Mexicano y quizá vestirme con la playera de México, ir a cenar a algún restaurante Mexicano, tomar Tequila y, como a veces hay pelea del Canelo Álvarez, ver la pelea.

¿Tradicionalmente, cómo se celebra El Día de la Independencia en México? ¿Cambia dependiendo de la región?

Tradicionalmente vas a la plaza del pueblo a ​“dar el grito”. Si no, lo das en tu casa. Mi familia solía darlo en caso de mis abuelos. Todos nos vestíamos con trajes típicos. Mi abuelo o algún adulto sacaba La Bandera, que es sagrada, y sujetándola en la mano ​“daba el grito”: “¡Viva nuestra Independencia Nacional! ¡Vivan los Héroes que nos dieron Patria y Libertad! ¡Viva Hidalgo! ¡Viva Morelos! ¡Viva Allende! ¡Viva Doña Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez! ¡Viva México!”. Y todo mundo responde gritando “¡Viva!”

¿Desde el punto de vista del programa Mixología de México, cómo vez El día de la Independencia?

Lo veo de la misma forma que siempre, con mucho orgullo de ser Mexicano. Pero me siento honrado que ahora tengo la oportunidad de dejar el nombre de México en alto. Mixología de México es un programa que quiere darle a México el lugar que se merece en la historia de la mixología. No conozco ningún programa de Mixología tan patriótico como éste.

¿Cómo podríamos seguir celebrando La Independencia de México?

Cada sorbo de Tequila celebra a México. Sobre todo cuando es buen tequila hecho por manos Mexicanas. No hay mejor forma de celebrar La Independencia que celebrando México. México es su gente, México es sus productos, México es su cultura, México es su comida, México es su bebida…

¿Qué bebidas o comida es típica del 16 de Septiembre?

El platillo más típico de ésta época es el ​“chile en nogada”, que además representa la bandera de México entre el chile verde, la crema blanca, y la granada roja. Pero obviamente el pozole, los tamales, los sopes, o el mole suelen estar por allí. A veces hay aguas frescas representando la bandera de México, con agua de limón, de horchata, y de jamaica. Por supuesto también hay tequila, cerveza y alguna otra bebida para hacer todo más divertido.

ENGLISH

Tell us about what Mexican Independence Day means to you:

September 16 is the most patriotic day in our country, even more important than May 5^th. We celebrate (according to history) the beginning of the war for the liberation of the government to which the Spanish subjected us for many years, and that we achieved independence as a country.

Do you do something to recognize it?

From childhood in school they teach you who were the most representative characters of that achievement. And we decorate the classrooms with the colors of our flag, representative images, and even perform plays or simply disguise ourselves as the main characters of said confrontation. Also in the streets, or in public squares, activities such as parades are carried out, we decorate the most important buildings in the city, allegorical cars.

How is Mexican Independence Day traditionally recognized or celebrated in Mexico? Does that vary by region?

The peak moment of our celebration is at 00:00 hours on September 16^th, in which we all gather outside our mayor’s office or government palace, while the president or governor, waves the Mexican flag, while he shouts ​“Viva México” We answer ​“Viva”, and it mentions the ​“heroes” of Independence saying ​“Viva Miguel Hidalgo” (who was one of the most important characters, and we answer ​“Viva” and so on with various characters). A bell is also rung symbolizing the beginning of the battle, in which Miguel Hidalgo rang the bells of his cathedral to wake up all the citizens and thus rise up in arms against the Spaniards.

Are there any traditional foods or drinks associated with Mexican Independence Day?

Traditionally they eat ​“antojitos” which are basically gorditas, tacos dorados, sopes, pozole, tostadas and tamales. They drink fresh waters, tequila, and hot drinks such as atole and champurrado.

In some regions it is very traditional to eat ​“chiles en nogada”, a typical Mexican dish that consists of poblano chili, cream, walnuts, pomegranate, and stuffed with meat or other elements.

Tell us about what Mexican Independence Day means to you:

September 16 is the most patriotic day in our country, even more important than May 5^th. We celebrate (according to history) the beginning of the war for the liberation of the government to which the Spanish subjected us for many years, and that we achieved independence as a country.

Do you do something to recognize it?

From childhood in school they teach you who were the most representative characters of that achievement. And we decorate the classrooms with the colors of our flag, representative images, and even perform plays or simply disguise ourselves as the main characters of said confrontation. Also in the streets, or in public squares, activities such as parades are carried out, we decorate the most important buildings in the city, allegorical cars.

How is Mexican Independence Day traditionally recognized or celebrated in Mexico? Does that vary by region?

The peak moment of our celebration is at 00:00 hours on September 16^th, in which we all gather outside our mayor’s office or government palace, while the president or governor, waves the Mexican flag, while he shouts ​“Viva México” We answer ​“Viva”, and it mentions the ​“heroes” of Independence saying ​“Viva Miguel Hidalgo” (who was one of the most important characters, and we answer ​“Viva” and so on with various characters). A bell is also rung symbolizing the beginning of the battle, in which Miguel Hidalgo rang the bells of his cathedral to wake up all the citizens and thus rise up in arms against the Spaniards.

Are there any traditional foods or drinks associated with Mexican Independence Day?

Traditionally they eat ​“antojitos” which are basically gorditas, tacos dorados, sopes, pozole, tostadas and tamales. They drink fresh waters, tequila, and hot drinks such as atole and champurrado.

In some regions it is very traditional to eat ​“chiles en nogada”, a typical Mexican dish that consists of poblano chili, cream, walnuts, pomegranate, and stuffed with meat or other elements.

Tell us about the significance of Mexican Independence Day to you.

For me this is not just a day, but a full month with a lot of Mexican heritage and nationalism around it. I like this month because it makes me celebrate my heritage even more and of course I feel even more Mexican than ever. I grab my tequila bottle, listen to traditional Mexican music. I like when I see my friends and family feel great and celebrate their way. We celebrate this land, the history, and the traditions we have, is basically the start of the best part of the year September, October, November, and December.

Do you do anything to recognize it?

Well, normally in Mexico we have parades in every city, and you know, we remember the history and the heroes that give us freedom from the Spanish people. But what I like to do is celebrate being Mexican. We have many things that other countries would like to have, and I’m talking of course about the food, the drinks, the celebrations (Dia de Muertos, Dia de la Indepencia, the fiestas before Christmas, etc…) Once again, I like to celebrate my Mexican heritage with a nice bottle of tequila, food, family and friends.

How is it traditionally recognized or celebrated in Mexico? Does that vary by region?

Again, normally in Mexico we have parades in every city, and you know, we remember the history and the heroes that give us freedom from the Spanish people. It doesn’t have a variation depending on the region, but it has a variation depending on the people. Some just attend the parades and have a small reunion, but some others (like me) organize a party with food, tequila and music, because, like I mentioned before, ​“Mexicans look for the excuse to celebrate, any time.“

Is there any traditional food or beverage associated with Mexican Independence Day?

Oh yea, of course I think during September we have a lot of recipes that are traditional for this. One of the most famous one is the chiles en nogada. This dish was created in Pueba but these days you can find it in every state of Mexico. It is the most popular dish for this season.

A special thank you to Pepe, Rodo, and Roberto for sharing their insights and knowledge of Mexican Independence Day. Make sure to check out our other Proof Reads here, or follow us on Instagram @academia_patron to learn about Mixología de México and more.