Cry of Dolores

The Grito de Dolores ("Cry of Dolores"), also called the Grito de Indepencia ("Cry of Independence"), was the call issued by Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Catholic priest, on 16 September 1810  in the small town of Dolores, Mexico. He wanted independence from Spain, which had become disorganized by Napoleon's invasion of the Peninsula in the preceding two years.

Hidalgo and a number of other Criollos (Mexican-born Spaniards) planned to fight the Spanish colonial government but were betrayed.

Because he was afraid to get arrested, Hidalgo made his brother Mauricio and a number of other men with guns go to the sheriff. On the night of September 15, they made him set free 80 prisoners for independence.Sosa, Francisco (1985) (in Spanish). Biografias de Mexicanos Distinguidos-Miguel Hidalgo. 472. Mexico City: Editorial Porrua SA. pp. 288-292. .

At around 6:00 the next morning, Hidalgo ordered the church bells to be rung. He made his church come together. With Ignacio Allende and Juan Aldama by his side, he spoke to the people in front of his church. He encouraged them to fight Spanish Viceroy José de Iturrigaray. Researchers do not agree as to what exactly Hidalgo said at the time.Michael, et al. (1979): The Course of Mexican History, page 276, New York, New York USA Oxford University Press  The book states "The exact words of this most famous of all Mexican speeches are not known, or, rather, they are reproduced in almost as many variations as there are historians to reproduce themMeyer.

The Battle of Guanajuato, the first important fight in the war, happened four days later. Mexico's independence from Spain would not be declared until September 27, 1821, after ten years of war, with the declaration of the first Mexican Empire.

The town was renamed to Dolores Hidalgo in his honor.

Remembrance

Every year on the night of September 15, the President of Mexico rings the bell of the National Palace, in Mexico City, at around 11 in the evening. After the ringing of the bell, he repeats a cry of patriotism (a Grito Mexicano), based upon the Grito de Dolores He calls out the names of the important heroes of the Mexican War of Independence and ends with the shouting three times of "Viva Mexico!" from the balcony of the palace. After the shouting, he rings the bell again and waves the flag of Mexico to the applause of the crowd in the Plaza de la Constitución. This is followed by the playing and mass singing of the Himno Nacional Mexicano, the national anthem. On the morning of September 16, or Independence Day, the national military parade starts in the Zócalo (another name for the Plaza de la Constitución). It goes past the Hidalgo Memorial and ends on the Paseo de la Reforma, the main boulevard of the city.

A similar celebration happens in cities and towns all over Mexico, and in Mexican embassies and consulates worldwide, on September 15th or 16. The mayor or governor and ambassadors or consuls take on the role of the president, and ring the bells, give a speech, and so on.

In the 19th century, Mexican presidents in their last year in office started to come to Dolores Hidalgo for the Grito de Dolores. President Felipe Calderón went to Dolores Hidalgo as part of the bicentennial celebrations in 2010 on the 16th of September.

September 16 is Independence Day in Mexico and is considered a patriotic holiday, or fiesta patria (literally "holiday of the fatherland"). The day is celebrated with parades, patriotic programs, drum and bugle and marching band competitions, and other special events.

References

Other websites

Mexico connect "El Grito" (The Cry) 
Bibliography and Hemerography: Miguel Hidalgo and Costilla. 
Miguel Hidalgo and Costilla - Documents of 1810 and 1811. 
Chronology of Miguel Hidalgo and Costilla 
 Mexico Celebrates Its Bicentennial  - slideshow by Life magazine

Category:National days
Category:1810 in North America
Category:Mexican War of Independence