Mexico marks its Independence Day
Mexico celebrates its national holiday on September 16, commemorating the 1810 call by priest Miguel Hidalgo that launched the fight against Spanish colonial rule.
Mexico is today observing its most significant national holiday – Independence Day. The date marks an event from more than two centuries ago that set in motion a prolonged struggle for the country's freedom.
The historical event
On September 16, 1810, in the town of Dolores, local Catholic parish priest Miguel Hidalgo rang the church bells to gather residents at the church. In his address, he urged those present to join a resistance movement against Spanish colonial authority, which then governed Mexico. This call has since come to be regarded as the starting point of the uprising.
Hidalgo's speech marked the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence – an armed conflict aimed at ending Spanish colonial dominance over the territory. The event has since acquired symbolic significance as the moment that launched the fight for the country's sovereignty.
Significance today
Today, September 16 is celebrated in Mexico as its principal national holiday, commemorating the event that set the country on the path to independence from Spanish colonial rule. The date is noted among historical milestones that mark significant moments in world history.
