Teen POV: My POV on Mexican Independence Day

By Liam Stidham

Growing up in México and coming back to school in September means that Independence Day is right around the corner and everyone is ready to celebrate it.

The 16^th of September is a very important day in our history, culture and tradition. It reminds us that 200 years ago a group of people called Los Conspiradores started  a secret plan to uprise against Spanish rule.

Their names were Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Catholic priest who became the leader; Juan Aldama, a military officer who supported Allende and Hidalgo; Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez, known as La Corregidora and who warned the rebels when the conspiracy was discovered; Miguel Dominguez, el Corregidor (Mayor) of Querétaro; Mariano Abasolo, a military officer, and our beloved Ignacio Allende who was a military officer and one of the main organizers of the conspiracy (I learned all this in History class.)

It was very early in the morning of the 16^th of September when Miguel Hidalgo called on the people of Dolores so they could fight against the oppression and injustice of the Spaniards. This became known as the Grito de Dolores and it was only the beginning of the fight to become an independent republic. After Miguel Hidalgo was executed in 1811, other people continued the movement, like José María Morelos y Pavón, Vicente Guerrero and Agustín de Iturbide who finally achieved Independence in 1821 (also in History class.)

Celebrating Independence Day in school is always such an amazing time when you're my age. It starts with honoring the flag, by singing the national anthem directed by your music teacher and showing that you're proud to be a Mexican. You usually go to school wearing  ties, bowties and hats with the national colors. Girls wear dresses, skirts, ribbons and necklaces with the national colors as well. Some kids dress up as Miguel Hidalgo or one of the other conspiradores.

What is something else that everyone loves about celebrating this holiday at school? That something is going to the tiendita and buying pozole. Pozole is sold at school only that day!

If you don't know what pozole is, it's a traditional Mexican soup made with hominy and pork or chicken cooked in spicy broth. You then add radishes, onions, lettuce and oregano, tostadas and lime. And have it with agua de jamaica. Perfect...!

After school, you have two options. You can go downtown to see the event live with the Mayor who reenacts El Grito in a ceremony full of fireworks, music and color. In our town, San Miguel de Allende, people gather around La Parroquia at the Jardín Principal while listening and dancing to Mexican music and watching the reenactment of the moment a message was sent alerting Ignacio Allende about the uncovered independence plot. After the celebration you can buy delicious Mexican street food or go to a restaurant and continue to celebrate. If you don't like loud music, fireworks and crowds then you can always stay home and watch it on TV. Mexican independence night almost feels like Christmas. Families get together and watch the ceremony eating grandma's delicious food: enchiladas, flautas, more pozole, sopes and a traditional dessert called capirotada, which is toasted bolillo bread covered with piloncillo syrup, cinnamon, raisins, nuts and cheese. My abuela always makes it the best.

At this point, you might be wondering why I've been talking about the 16^th of September when we celebrate this on the 15^th. The reason is that although Hidalgo's original battle cry took place in the morning of the 16th, Porfirio Díaz decided in 1910 to hold El Grito de Dolores on his own birthday,  September 15^th, the day before Independence Day. Does it make sense now? So we keep celebrating that day, but the 16^th is still the official day and nobody goes to work or school. It's a win-win!

This year I'm going to a new school as I'm starting Secundaria (Middle school) so I don't know what food they will sell at the cafetería (not a tiendita anymore) or how the event will be, but I know I'm going to have fun and I'm already craving some of that pozole.

Liam Stidham is a twelve-year-old student in San Miguel de Allende