Shout of Dolores (Grito de Dolores)

Date:

• Celebrated annually on the night of September 15th.

History:

• The Shout of Dolores is considered the event that marked the beginning of Mexico's War of Independence from Spain.
• In the early hours of September 16, 1810, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Catholic priest, rang the bell of his church in the small town of Dolores, near Guanajuato.
• Hidalgo called upon his parishioners to rise up against Spanish colonial rule, delivering a passionate speech that has come to be known as "El Grito de Dolores" or "The Cry of Dolores."
• The exact words Hidalgo used are not known; however, his call for freedom and equality ignited a revolutionary movement that spread across Mexico.

Traditions:

• Each year on September 15th at around 11 p.m., the President of Mexico re-enacts the Grito from the balcony of the National Palace in Mexico City.
• The President rings Hidalgo’s bell, which is now kept at the National Palace, and shouts out a cry for patriotism based on Hidalgo’s original call.
• Citizens gathered in the main square (Zócalo) respond with cries of "Viva México" or "Viva la independencia!" celebrating Mexican heroes.

What People Do:

• Throughout the country, similar celebrations are replicated in state capitals and local municipalities where governors and mayors perform their own version of El Grito.
• Mexicans all over the world celebrate with parties and Mexican-themed decorations. It’s a day filled with national pride.
• Firework displays light up the night sky in cities and towns.
• Traditional food is an integral part of celebrations; dishes like pozole, chiles en nogada, and tamales are popular choices.
• Public venues often feature performances by mariachi bands and other musicians playing patriotic music.