Monday, September 20, 2010
Mexico's Festive Bicentennial 'Grito' and Military Parade
By Allan Wall
At last, Mexico’s much-awaited
Bicentennial Independence Day ceremonies have been held, and they were certainly spectacular.
The entire calendar year of 2010
is considered a Bicentennial/Centennial year, the Bicentennial of Independence and the Centennial of the Revolution. There are over 700 activities being held to commemorate this dual anniversary.
The actual Independence Day celebrations,
of course, had to be big. And they were.
The traditional Mexican custom
of the Grito (the “shout” or “cry”) takes place on the
night of September 15th. It’s an historical reenactment
of sorts, reenacting the actions of Miguel Hidalgo, considered the father of Mexico, in the town of Dolores in 1810. It was there that Hidalgo, a Catholic priest, gathered the people in front of the church
on the plaza, where he gave a speech, rang the bell, and called the people to action. The town’s name was later expanded to Dolores Hidalgo in Hidalgo’s honor.
This action, 200 years ago, initiated
the public movement that was eventually transformed into the Mexican Independence Movement.
Although Hidalgo was executed in 1811, Mexican independence was finally achieved in 1821. In memory of Hidalgo’s action, the Mexican Grito custom
reenacts it each year.
So, in public plazas large
and small throughout Mexico, the Grito is held each night of September 15th. The mayor (or governor or president) comes out on the balcony where he rings a bell,
waves the flag, and shouts a succession of Vivas – (Viva being the Spanish expression for “Long Live”).
In the standard Grito, the mayor (or governor or president) shouts “Long live the heroes who gave us the nation and liberty,”
followed by “Viva Hidalgo” and Vivas
for other Independence heroes. The leader may add his own Viva but of course ends with “¡Viva México!” several times. Then he rings the bell and the national anthem is sung.
The biggest Grito each year is the one in Mexico City. It’s held in the
Zocalo, the main plaza of Mexico City. There the president of Mexico comes out
on the balcony of the National Palace and leads the Grito to the crowd assembled
beneath.
In this year’s Bicentennial
Grito, President Felipe Calderon added some timely shouts: “¡Viva el Bicentenario de la Independencia!” and “¡Viva
el Centenario de la Revolución!, completed of course with the Viva México three times.
Afterwards there was a massive
and spectacular fireworks display.
(For a short video of the Bicentennial
Grito, click here.)
President Calderon was quite
busy on the 15th and 16th. Besides leading the Grito on the night of the 15th in Mexico City, he went to Dolores Hidalgo to give the Grito there.
On the 16th of September, there
is a customary Independence Day Parade. In Mexico City this parade (which passes
through the Zocalo to be reviewed by the president) highlights the Mexican military.
This year’s Bicentennial
Parade was a big one. It’s estimated that 450,000 spectators attended and over 18,000 participants marched.
The parade kicked off with 27
paratroopers (15 from the Army, 12 from the Navy) parachuting down to ground level in Mexico City. There was also a flyover of Mexican Air Force planes.
This year, 575 military
personnel (from 16 foreign countries) were invited to march. In order for them
to participate, President Calderon had to request permission from the Mexican Senate, and the Senate gave its consent.
There were military contingents
from 16 other countries. Before marching in the actual parade, the foreign troops
practiced with the Mexican troops on Mexico’s famous Campo Militar Numero Uno parade ground. As a veteran
myself, I remember how it was an interesting experience to meet and work with military personnel from other countries, and
I’d be willing to bet that the foreign troops enjoyed their visit to Mexico.
Four of the participating nations,
Colombia, Venezuela, Argentina and Chile, also have bicentennials this year. (Chile’s was the 18th, 2 days
after Mexico’s). Other participating Latin American countries were Guatemala,
El Salvador, Nicaragua and Peru. North American neighbors Canada and the U.S.
sent contingents, as did China and Russia. France and Germany sent soldiers.
And so did Spain, the country from which Mexico won its independence. Spain, in fact, has participated in Mexico’s Bicentennial in several ways.
Furthermore,
for the first time ever the Mexican Federal Police participated in the Independence Day parade, marching with their
weaponry and vehicles. That’s altogether appropriate, given the heavy participation
of the Federal Police in the ongoing war on the drug cartels.
In all, over 18,000 military
and security personnel marched in the parade. (For photographs of the parade, click here).
All in all, the Bicentennial
Mexican Independence Day festivities on the 15th and 16th proceeded according to plan and were quite
impressive.
¡Viva México!
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Allan Wall, an educator, resided in Mexico for many years. His website is located at www.allanwall.net.
