Honoring freedom

By Maria Vega, On-Line Forty-Niner

Wednesday, September 16, 1998

For most people outside of Mexico and of non-Mexican heritage, Sept. 16 is just another day. Even for those of Mexican descent who do not live in Mexico, it may just be another excuse to have a barbecue.

However, Sept. 16 is one of the most historically relevant days in Mexican history, said Dr. Luis Arroyo, chairman of the Cal State Long Beach Chicano and Latino studies department. Sept. 16 is Mexican Independence Day.

"It is truly the most significant day for all of Mexico as a nation," Arroyo said.

Mexican Independence Day celebrates the beginning of Mexico's struggle for sovereignty from Spain, according to the Mexico History Directory website.

On Sept. 16, 1810, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla made the momentous decision to call the Mexican indians together to revolt against the Spaniards, who had exploited the Mexicans for 300 years.

Hidalgo y Costilla, a Catholic priest, rang the church bells in the village of Dolores to call the Mexicans to mass. It was here Hidalgo y Costilla made the famous grito , or cry, at midnight. "Mexicanos, Viva Mexico!" became known as "El Grito de Dolores," The Cry of Dolores.

He called the Mexicans to action against the Spaniards, and to recover their stolen land. The Mexicans revolted, and armed with clubs, slings, axes, knives and machetes challenged the Spaniards and their artillery.

His decision to call the Mexicans to action marks the beginning of the struggle for freedom and made Hidalgo y Costilla a national hero of the Mexican Revolution, Arroyo said.

The Mexicans moved toward Mexico City and along the way the forces, led by Hidalgo y Costilla and Ignacio Allende, an army officer, carried a picture of the patron saint of Mexico, Our Lady of Guadalupe, according to the website.

The movement became a bloody class struggle and lasted 11 years. Mexico finally won independence from Spain in 1821.

However, Hidalgo y Costilla did not live long enough to see that day. He was captured and executed by the Spaniards in 1811.

Every year at midnight on Sept. 16, "El Grito de Dolores" is reenacted. The Mexican president comes out of the presidential palace onto a balcony overlooking the Zocalo Square in the middle of Mexico City. Crowds of people pack the plaza waiting to see the president wave the Mexican flag, shout "El Grito de Dolores" and ring the bell.

Many people watch this event on television station KMEX, one of the Spanish-language television stations in Los Angeles. The live event interrupts regular programming, said Ana Bernardi, who works in the station's programming department. The event aired at 10 p.m. Tuesday night, which is midnight in Mexico.

"People of Mexican heritage understand how important this day is," Arroyo said. "We have many rituals to reinforce that idea like El Grito, the ringing of bells and local celebrations."

A celebration in Long Beach at Admiral Kidd Park will feature mariachi, Ballet Folkorico and food booths.

CSULB's La Raza Student Association will be selling fruit, ice cream (paletas) and other refreshments from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in front of the Psychology Building.

Most people confuse Cinco de Mayo with Mexican Independence Day. Cinco de Mayo celebrates the victory of Mexico over the French army in 1862 near the city of Puebla, Arroyo said.

"People of non-Mexican heritage usually confuse the days," Arroyo said. "But it is also significant to remember Cinco de Mayo because it marks the struggle of Mexico to remain independent."