The entire Mexican people celebrate the evening of September 15th every year. It's their Saint John the Baptist Day! They celebrate the eve and the following day is a public holiday.
"Cinco de Mayo" does not celebrate Mexico's independence.
If you thought
Cinco de Mayo was the Mexican national holiday, we're debunking that myth today. It's actually a celebration of the victory at the Battle of Puebla, which took place in 1862.
Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in Puebla, but not elsewhere in Mexico.
Spain initially conquered Mexico in 1500.
In the 16th century, Spain controlled Latin America from what was "New Spain." It was a Spanish colony.
September 16, 1810 marked the beginning of
Mexico's independence from Spain.
It was a priest named Miguel Hidalgo who secretly started the revolt.
Father Hidalgo had approximately 90,000 poor Mexican farmers and civilians who believed in him.
The day before Mexico's Independence Day is called "El Grito de Delores" (the day of Dolores' cry).
During the night of September 15-16, he launched the cry for independence and rang the bells to initiate the battle that lasted 11 years.
And although independence was officially declared in 1821, it's the beginnings of the battle for independence that Mexicans prefer to celebrate. Nothing to do with "
Cinco de Mayo ," again.
The base of the Angel of Independence is a mausoleum (a funerary monument).
You might be familiar with the Angel of Independence monument (El Ángel de la Independencia) located in Mexico City. Well, it's also a memorial site. The angel holds a laurel wreath, a symbol of victory, and a broken chain, a symbol of the end of Spanish rule over Mexico.
At the heart of the monument, in a crypt, lie the heroes of Independence such as Andrés Quinta Roo, Guadalupe Victoria and Miguel Hidalgo.
¡Viva México! September 15 and 16 and not “
Cinco de Mayo ”
