by Cristina Chowath, Elite Real Estate Los Cabos Real Estate Advisor

It was the very first hours of September 16th, 1810, in Dolores, Guanajuato. It was pitch dark when the bells of the church were ringing. A group of intellectual nationals were calling everyone to gather to rise against the Spanish government for a free country. These men and women had been planning a political and civil movement on which they wanted to abolish almost 300 years of colonial domination. As Priest Miguel Hidalgo was ringing the bells, he kept calling for a free Country, for Independence, free thinking, equality for all, no more slavery, no more rendition to a foreign King. Hidalgo closed his speech with the all famous: ¡Viva Mexico! ¡Viva la Independencia de Mexico! ¡Viva Mexico! … And the rest is now history.

Mexican Independence was a movement that began with the Grito de Independencia on September 16th, 1810, and finished on September 27th, 1821, when the Trigarante Army marched victorious into Mexico City led by Agustin de Iturbide. All these bloody years ended and a new era began with the signing of the Plan de Iguala, a document that set the basis for a free Country and eventually its own constitution.

So many courageous men and women fought hard throughout these years and led an army that achieved equal rights for everyone. Among these notorious Héroes de la Patria are Jose Maria Morelos, Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez, Ignacio Allende, Vicente Guerrero… and the list goes on and on.

Did you know...

·      Dar el grito, is how Independence Day is celebrated. It has become a tradition that the Mexican President rings the bell at midnight calling for unity and remembering those who fought and died.

·      Chiles en Nogada is one of Mexico’s most iconic dishes, it evokes culture, tradition and commemorates the green, white and red colors of the Mexican flag as Agustin de Iturbide and his army triumphally marched into the City.

·      5 de Mayo has nothing to do with Mexican Independence.

A lot of countries around the world have joined Mexico in celebrating their Independence Day. The Empire State Building in New York and Gama Tower in Jakarta are some of the many buildings that have marked the country’s celebrations.

In Los Cabos, in the civic plazas, hotels, and restaurants celebrate this day with traditional food such as pozole, chiles en nogada, and other gastronomic delights, as well as fireworks and regional Mexican music.

Let's celebrate together and say VIVA MEXICO!