One of the most popular Mexican patriotic holidays is Diez y Seis de Septiembre (the 16th of September), Mexican Independence Day. It celebrates the independence of Mexico from Spain in the early 19th century.
Mexican Independence Day really begins on the night of September 15th, at the traditional Grito observance. Grito means “shout” or “cry.” It commemorates the manner in which Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, considered the father of Mexico, publicly initiated what became the Mexican independence movement, in 1810.
This was in the town of Dolores, now renamed Dolores Hidalgo, in central Mexico. Hidalgo, a priest, gathered the people in front of the church on the plaza, where he gave a speech and rang the bell, and called the people to action.
(Today tourists can visit Dolores Hidalgo, see the same church and tour Hidalgo’s house.)
In commemoration of Hidalgo’s original Grito, the time-honored tradition is for Mexicans to gather in plazas in Mexican cities large and small. There are speeches and performances. At 11:00 p.m., the mayor, on the balcony, waves a flag and shouts vivas in honor of Hidalgo and other Independence figures, and of course “Viva Mexico!” Then fireworks are detonated.
On the 16th no school is held. There are parades, including a massive Mexican military parade in Mexico City.
Much like the United States and Britain, many customs held over. Such was bullfighting. The sport came over from Spain and remained a part of the Mexican culture.
The study of the Mexican War of Independence is a fascinating one. It is complex, and marked with little-known ironies.
Mexican Independence was not achieved in a vacuum. It was closely linked to what was going on in Spain and Europe.
The period in which Mexico became independent lasted 11 years (from 1810-1821), it consisted of several phases, and it was led by men of diverse ideologies.
Before independence, Mexico was part of a vast Spanish Empire stretching from California to Tierra del Fuego, in the chilly southern extremity of South America.
But in 1808 Spain was conquered by Napoleon. What then became of Spain’s empire?
Napoleon was famously disinterested in the Western Hemisphere (which is why he sold the Louisiana Territory to the US). This created a power vacuum in the Spanish Empire, and nature abhors a vacuum. So Napoleon indirectly triggered various independence movements throughout the empire.
In Mexico, Miguel Hidalgo’s insurgency, which began in 1810, was not officially directed against the deposed Spanish monarchy, but against the Spanish authorities who were then running Mexico. Hidalgo was captured and shot in 1811.
The most famous leader of the next phase of the movement was Jose Morelos, another priest, who had been a student of Hidalgo. It was during the Morelos phase that an independent Mexico became the concrete public goal of the insurgency.
Morelos was captured and executed in 1815. By this time Napoleon had been driven out of Spain and the Spanish government attempted to reel its empire back in. But the damage had been done, and the Spaniards were soon to lose all their mainland possessions in the Western Hemisphere.
After Morelos’ death, Mexican guerrilla movements led by Vicente Guerrero, Guadalupe Victoria, and others continued to resist the Spanish government. But the insurgency didn’t really amount to much.
Ironically, it was the Mexican royalists’ switching sides that brought about independence. In 1820, a new government took power in Spain. Suddenly the Mexican royalists, who had been loyal to Spain all these years, decided that they would rather rule an independent Mexico. So they sent General Agustin de Iturbide (who had been leading the royalists against the insurgents for years) to make a pact with the insurgent leader Guerrero, who agreed to it. In August of 1821, the Spanish viceroy in Mexico recognized the independence of Mexico and signed the Treaty of Cordoba.
On September 27th Iturbide’s army entered Mexico City, and on the 28th of September an independent Mexico was officially declared.
In modern day Chicago, Mother Nature was literally raining on their parade, but that didn't seem to bother hundreds of people who happily lined the streets of Chicago's Little Village neighborhood Sunday with umbrellas and plastic ponchos to celebrate Mexican Independence Day.
Although the event didn't clog the streets with tens of thousands of people as it has other years, those who made it to the event said they wouldn't miss the chance to honor the day that marks the Sept. 16, 1810, beginning of the Mexican revolution.Drummers beat on snares that had gathered pools of water. Beauty queens modeled poufy dresses under umbrellas, and local businesses and radio stations threw candy and toys to children bundled in raincoats and rubber boots. There were candies and toys thrown out just like any other parade, except that it was wet, but no one cared. They were too busy showing their pride!
Viva la Mexico!
In honor of Mexican Independence Day, I am including a recipe for
Bananas Empanadas, enjoy!
Cooking spray 3 cups sliced bananas 2 tablespoons light or dark brown sugar 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 2 (9-inch) refrigerated pie crusts Ice cream or powdered sugar, if desired
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray.
In a large bowl, combine bananas, sugar and cinnamon. Mix well and set aside.
Unroll pie crusts onto a flat surface.
Using a ring mold, make circles in the dough. Put the banana mixture on the pie dough and place another round on top. Pinch around the edges of each section to seal. Transfer the empanadas to the prepared baking sheet and make slits in the top of each to allow steam to escape. Place the baking sheet into the preheated oven and bake until crust is golden brown, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove the baking sheet from the oven and place the empanadas on a platter. Serve with ice cream or sprinkle with powdered sugar if you'd like!
We were at Gurnee Mills last night to try and exchange a hooded sweatshirt my son had given me for my birthday. It's very sweet and everything, but I think I've outgrown the Beatles and would really prefer a CUBS hoodie. 
