Diez y Seis de Septiembre
This time of year is always great! Here in the states, we’ve got football back on tv, fall is about to make the weather cooler, and the holidays are fast approaching. But in Mexico, these days are when plazas start to get decorated with streams of red, white, and green. Everyone is gearing up for Mexican Independence Day! That’s right, it’s not Cinco de Mayo like some people think - it’s September 16th!
The vibrant festivities and national pride make this day so special. At the heart of it all is “El Grito” (the Cry of Independence), a moment that can give us all goose bumps to hear.
On the night of September 15, 1810, in the small town of Dolores, Father Miguel Hidalgo rang the church bell and called upon the people of Mexico to rise up against Spanish rule. This historic moment marked the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence. Father Hidalgo’s call to arms, now known as “El Grito de Dolores” is celebrated each year as a symbol of Mexican unity, resistance, and the fight for freedom. His famous words, although never recorded verbatim, inspired generations:
“¡Viva México! ¡Viva la independencia! ¡Muera el mal gobierno!” (Long live Mexico! Long live independence! Down with bad government!).
While Independence Day is officially on September 16th, celebrations kick off the evening before, on September 15th with nationwide gatherings in town squares, private homes, and public spaces. I remember being a kid and my parents letting me stay up late, even on school nights. It was a little confusing to me as a kid but as I learned more about Independence Day, it was all so cool to watch. The decorum of the president walking out and getting handed the Mexican flag by a corp of soldiers. The military trumpets playing, and then ultimately the president coming out to “El Zocalo” emerging from the National Palace in Mexico City.
This act is followed by the president shouting the names of the heroes of Mexican independence, concluding with the cry: “¡Viva México!” repeated three times. The crowd would roar back in unison, creating an electric atmosphere of national pride. This would always conclude with a ringing of the bell and then the playing of the national anthem. It used to make my dad cry when he would hear the Mexican National anthem and it gives me chills to hear thousands of people singing it in unison.
No Independence Day celebration is complete without indulging in Mexico’s rich culinary traditions such as chiles en nogada, a seasonal dish that embodies the colors of the Mexican flag with its green, white, and red ingredients. You’ll find other classic Mexican foods such as tamales, tacos, and pozole. Families and friends gather to enjoy meals together, often accompanied by tequila or mezcal, and toast to the country’s independence. We’d like you to also consider some Tepache in there. Puro Tepache is the perfect companion for any patriotic dish!
For immigrants and children of immigrants, September 16th is such a cool way to connect with your homeland. It’s a way to feel a part of celebration and be able to know that you are a part of wonderful tradition that honors sacrifice, freedom, and heroism. When I drink a Puro Tepache, I think of Mexico. It instantly take me back - and I’ll be drinking one while watching a Grito somewhere.
Emmanuel Casasola
Puro Tepache Co-Founder/CCO