The people fought for eleven years before they finally won their freedom. Today Mexican Independence Day is a major celebration in Mexico, bigger than Cinco de Mayo. The people of Mexico celebrate with a fiesta. A fiesta is a party or festival. Fiestas are held for many different reasons that vary from honoring a person, to events in Mexico's history.
Fiestas can be simple or elaborate and can last from one day, up to a week or more.
There are many things that can happen during a fiesta, some of these things are colorful parades, music, dancing, eating spicy food, drinking strong drinks, bullfights, rodeos, and fireworks. Vendors come and set up booths to sell toys, souvenirs, food and drinks. In Mexico City a huge square is decorated with flags, flowers and lights of red, white, and green. People sell confetti, whistles, horns, paper-machete helmets, and toys in the colors of red, white and green. The people also eat lots of food.