News
Dieciséis de Septiembre celebrated in the hearts of many
By Teresa Velasco
Oct 5, 2007, 15:57

Just the way that the United States celebrates the 4th of July, Mexico celebrates Diez y Seis de Septiembre (16th of September) as their day of remembrance when they received their independence from Spain.

The Olmec, Teotihuacán, Maya, Toltec, and, of course, the most powerful of all, the Aztec Empire, created great civilizations in Mexico until the Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortez went in search of gold and other riches to take back to Spain.

The indigenous people decided to help Cortes because they were tired of living under the hand of the Aztec rulers and their shrine to Montezuma. They thought that helping Cortes would stop the rule of the Aztecs, but what the indigenous didn’t know was that they would be even worse under the rule of Cortes.

Cortes slaughtered and tortured the natives leaving less than 1 million when originally there were over 20 million.

The Spaniards ruled the land for over 300 years until Napoleon invaded Spain, and the native Mexicans found this the perfect opportunity to take advantage of their rulers distraction.

It was Father Hidalgo along with several conspirators –Ignacio Allende and Doña Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez-who rang his church bell, signaling the people to revolt and fight for their freedom. Their struggle lasted 10 years until they won their independence from Spain.

To remember this special occasion in Mexico’s history the president walks out and rings the exact bell Father Hidalgo rang, along with a display of fireworks and the people yelling back “Viva Mexico!”

El Dieciséis de Septiembre is not only celebrated in Mexico but also here in the United States as well as in New York, Nebraska, and many other states. El Dieciséis de Septiembre is celebrated with parades reminding us that people of all races should remember and ring the bell for freedom.


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