What exactly is Mexican Independence Day?

September 16 is Mexican Independence Day, and the background behind it no doubt resonates deeply with many.

This is the day in 1810 where a Catholic priest named Miguel Hidalgo uttered a plea for freedom and independence for Mexico from Spain, which had begun taking control of Mexico in the 1500′s. Father Hidalgo’s cry for freedom came in the form of a speech known as the Grito de Dolores.

It spurred the beginning of the Mexican Independence War, which lasted for over a decade and led to around 15,000 Mexican deaths (including Hidalgo, who was beheaded in 1811), and ultimately led to Mexico gaining its independence in 1821.

Although September 27 is the day that independence was ultimately won and declared, September 16 is recognized as Mexican Independence Day because that day is looked upon as the ultimate key that led to the country earning its freedom. It marks the beginning of the struggle, the beginning of hope.