Grito de Dolores - September 16 - Mexican Independence Day - The Holiday, and the Vocabulary to Discuss It.
Mexican Independence day - September 16th
A lot of people believe that the 5th of May is the day of the Mexican Independence. The Independence of Mexico really began September 16th, 1810, 50 some years earlier.
Shortly before midnight on September 15th, Father Hidalgo, a revolutionary priest who had rebelled against the Spanish government, rang the bells to call his parishioners to the church. He gave a stirring speech about freedom from the oppression of the Spanish empire, and exhorted them to revolt.
It is commemorated yearly by the Mexican President and the Mexican people. Just prior to midnight, on the 15th, the Mexican President rings the bells in the National palace. On the 16th, there is a military parade in Mexico City, and parades in towns and cities throughout Mexico. The President also gives a speech of remembrance on September 16th, on the themes of Father Hidalgo’s original sermon - the “Grito de Dolores.” Often some 500,000 people come to the Plaza to hear him.
This is the 199th anniversary of the day Mexican indepenence began. Next year, on the bicentennial, Mexico is planning a grand celebratation all through Mexico,
History of Cinco de Mayo
Many, mistakenly, think, that the 5th of May is the day of the Mexican Independence. This is however not the case. The Independence of Mexico was declared on 16th September 1810.
The bank holiday of 5th of May is celebrated in memory of the victory of a rather ramshackle Mexican army over nearly twice as strong and much better armed French troops in the battle of Puebla in 1862, 52 years later. The background is as follows:
During the 1850s, Mexico suffered a serious economic crisis which lead to the accumulation of huge foreign loans and debts. To obtain some relief and try to get the crisis under control, President Benito Juarez issued a moratoruim on 17th July 1861, declaring that all foreign debts would be suspended for two years and payment would resume thereafter.
The answer to that measure from Spain, Great Britain and France was to invade the country and practically raid her in order to obtain payment by whatever means they could. Whereas Spain and the UK quickly settled, the French refused to leave. Under Napoleon III, they fully intended to annex Mexcio and establish an emperor in the person of the Habsburg Prince Maximillian, whom they had already brought along for the purpose.
Brave Mexicans, mostly Chicanos, Mestizos and Zapotec Indians under General Ignacio Zaragoza, badly armed and vastly outnumbered by the well trained French Army, nevertheless managed to shatter and defeat the French.
Since then, 5th of May is celebrated in Mexico in honour of the spirit of independence and bravery of the Mexican people.
Revolutionary Vocabulary
Grito de Dolores - Cry from Dolores
Cinco de Mayo - Fifth of May
La batalla - battle
La legion de honor - legion
Francia - France
Inglaterra - Great Britain
Espana - Spain
Artilleria (f) - artillery
Los tiros - shots
El fuego - fire
Los caballos - horses
El rifle - rifle
La escopeta - shotgun
La pistola - gun
La guerra - war
La paz - peace
La revolucion - revolution
Las tropas - troops
El heroe - hero
La bandera - flag
Los desperados - roaming troops, mercenaries
More Martial Vocabulary
La independencia - independence
Los indios - Indians
El emperador - emperor
La muerte - death
invalido - disabled
La herida - wound
La espada - sabre
El orgullo - pride
El bravado - bravery
El plan de batalla - battle plan
El teniente - lieutenant
El caudillo - leader
Las fuerzas armadas - army
El soldado - soldier
El peon - infantry
Las armas - weapons
El traidor - traitor
La invasion - invasion
El golpe de estado - coup d’etat
derrotar - to defeat
La conspiracion - conspiracy
La pena de muerte - death penalty
El monumento - monument
La tumba - grave
La estatua - statue
La armada - fleet
El casco - helmet
El chaleco contraballas - bulletproof vest
Las ballas - bullets
La municion - amunition
El attentado - attack
La victoria - victory
