The Grito de Dolores ("Cry of/from Dolores") was the battle cry of the Mexican War of Independence, uttered on September 16, 1810 by Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Roman Catholic priest from the small town of Dolores, near Guanajuato.
In the early hours of September 16 father Hidalgo, accompanied by several conspirators –Ignacio Allende, Doña Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez- rang the bell of his little church, calling everyone to fight for liberty. This was the beginning of the Independence War, which lasted 10 years.
Flanked by Allende and Juan Aldama, Father Hidalgo addressed the people in front of his church, encouraging them to revolt. The exact words of the speech are lost. Father Hidalgo, however, is believed to have cried: "Long live Our Lady of Guadalupe [a symbol of the Amerindians' faith], death to bad government, and death to the Spaniards!" The Battle of Guanajuato, the first major engagement of the insurgency, occurred 4 days later. Mexico's independence would not be recognized by the Spanish crown until September 27, 1821, after a decade of war.
Since the late 19th century, Hidalgo’s "cry of independence" has become emblematic of Mexican independence. Each year on the night of September 15, the President of Mexico re-enacts the event by ringing the bells of the National Palace in Mexico City. He repeats a cry of patriotism based upon the "Grito de Dolores" from the balcony of the palace to the assembled crowd in the Plaza de la Constitución, or Zócalo, one of the largest public plazas in the world. This event draws up to half a million spectators. On the dawn of September 16, or Independence Day, the national military parade starts in the Zócalo, passes the Hidalgo Memorial and ends on the Paseo de la Reforma, Mexico City’s main boulevard.
The following day, September 16, is recognized as Mexican Independence Day. Celebrations are held all over the country to commemorate Mexico’s fight for freedom from Spain.
To all my Mexican brothers and sisters - HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY
A todos mis hermanos y hermanas Mexicanos – FELIZ DIA DE INDEPENDENCIA
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