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Dolores, Hidalgo, Guanajuato-In the first hours of September 16th,1810.

Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla,"The Father of the Country" (in Spanish: El Padre de la Patria),who was a priest in the small town of Dolores, rang the church's bell for gathering the people in order to raise them up against the Spanish Crown during the third century of Spaniard Domination that was crushing Mexico, this initiated the war of Independence, a cruel,raw and wild war that ended on 1821, when Mexico finally was free of the Spaniard oppresion and achieved its Independence.

Besides Miguel Hidalgo and Ignacio Allende,one of the most important names when we talk about the War of Independence is Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez, she was born in Valladolid (today Morelia) in 1768 and died in 1829.

Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez married Miguel Dominguez in 1791 and they moved to Queretaro, Mex. where her husband was the Corregidor of the city (Corregidor means "corrector" in Spanish- The term, it should be noted, referred less to someone who teaches wayward people to cultivate the paths of rectitude than it did to a magistrate in colonial Spain).

The Corregidora was a fierce antagonistic toward the gachupínes (Spaniards born in Spain),despite she was of pure Spanish ancestry,she had a great intelectual development,she was a very bright woman and this allowed her to be at the many Literary Societies. These Literary Societies used to study many of the literary creations banned by the church, smuggling books written by Voltaire, Rousseau, Descartes and many more that th church in those days considered as "dangerous books" , in the long run of the months these Literary Societies turned into Political Societies, all this would "help" to the Independence movement.

On the eve of the Independence War she warned Ignacio Allende and Miguel Hidalgo about the rumor and fear that the rebels had hidden a big quantity of weapons,also she informed Hidalgo as a confession that the Independence plot had been discovered and Hidalgo would be arrested at any moment because he was inciting the indians to fight for their freedom.

Josefa Ortiz De Dominguez risked her life and all what she had for helping Hidalgo, she paid for all this, as a punishment she was sent to many convents once she was found guilty and was released when the Independence war ended.

Nowadays, every September 16th we celebrate "El Grito de Independencia" (The Cry of Independence) ,the celebrations starts on September 15th, this is the eve of the Independence Day, at our homes, most of the Mexican Citizens, celebrate with dinners,we eat most of the traditional dishes like Pozole, Gorditas,tacos, guacamole, carnitas, mole, tamales, enchiladas, frijoles, Chiles rellenos, bunuelos, camote,etc, and we drink the very International and deliciious Tequila, also mezcal or any other national wine, of course we have also "adopted" sodas as a part of our dinners... almost at midnight, the President of our Nation honours our Independence heroes in ceremony from the Zocalo (this is the downtown of Mexico City) and he rangs the bell from the National Palace in remembrance of what Hidalgo and other heroes did. In Queretaro,the Governor of the state will rang the Independence Bell from the Municipal Hall,the same place where it was planned and developed,the same bell that rang in the first hours announcing the Independence will be ringing tonight,at midnight.


Municipal Hall Balcony

We the Mexican Citizen feel proud that thanks to all these Mexican heroes, Mexico is a free nation, it is still a growing up country,proud of our history and our culture, Mexico's people are united and hardworking, it's true that right now we are having a very difficult time into the political and government sense, we are slowly changing as a nation and changes are never easy...this is exactly what shows that our nation has started to wake up bcause we want a safer and better Mexico, with equal opportunities and freedom in all senses...nowadays we don't fight with guns or any other kind of weapons, for us, the mexican citizens the best way of fighting is by learning, studying, preparing ourselves for creating the new country we want. Education and culture are the key and only educating all those young citizens we will achieve a brighter and stronger country.

The celebration of the Mexican Independence day in the areas where there are border crossings is a bit different,I lived in Tijuana, Baja California for 20 years...Tijuana or Baja -as it is called by Americans- is a place in which celebrating our Independence is mixed with sadness and happiness because Tijuana is so close to United States and many Mexican citizens live as illegals in USA, the issue is that there are families divided by a border crossing. Currently I live in Queretaro and it is an amazing city full of history (especially thanks to Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez), Queretaro is also the "craddle of the Mexican Constitution", it's a very interesting city,with that baroque-colonial style blending with all the modernity,peaceful city not only for resting (vacationing),there are many beautiful and cultural places to see, enjoy and also for learning in Queretaro, it's a great city,come to Queretaro and you will enjoy part of the Mexican History!.

Viva Mexico!
Happy Independence Day 2009! I especially send a warm greeting from Mexico to all my Deviant Art friends and especially to my beloved!

Sandra Villanueva

Mexico's Independence day...September 16th. (Wheels for Independence 2005)

Municipal Hall entrance-front view