EVERY YEAR COULD BE LIKE ANYOTHER, BUT THIS 2010 THE MEXICAN NATION MARKS THEIR HISTORY WITH TWO HISTORIC EVENTS: THE BICENTENIAL OF THEIR INDEPENDENCE AND THE CENTENIAL OF THE MEXICAN REVOLUTION.
By Miguel Martinez Mendoza
(Imagen from the government of mexico website http://www.bicentenatio.gov.mx/)
(Imagen from the government of mexico website http://www.bicentenatio.gov.mx/)
Since the beginning of 2010, Mexico initiated the countdown for their most important celebrations in the year; the bicentenary of their independence on September 16th and the centenary of the Mexican revolution on November 20th.
Two different days in two different moments with a century of difference. In effect both historic events unified the people of Mexico for a common purpose. Miguel Hidalgo called women and men born in this land to fight for their independence and for equality in 1810. Emiliano Zapata and Pancho Villa called the people of Mexico to fight for land and liberty in 1910. Actually, such events marked much of the reality of Mexico, but such events are reasons of celebration and happiness around the country.
The traditional ceremony of “el grito de Dolores” (the cry of Dolores) is celebrated in the whole country, but the biggest celebration is in Mexico City, where crowd congregate in the main square of Zocalo. There, people celebrate with music, culture, dance, colorful fireworks, traditional food, and a lot of happy screams saying “viva Mexico.” In Mexico city the celebrations on September 15th were preceded by a mystical ritual called “fuego nuevo” (new fire) and then for a cultural and artistic parade, considered the biggest parade recorded in their history. The agenda of celebrations continued the next day with a military parade that included for the first time 17 invited countries, including China, Russia, and the US.
In a conversation with Mr. Luis Montero, a Spanish language professor at Normandale, he said “the independence of Mexico and other South American countries happened in the right moment. Involved in the Napoleonic wars (around 1807), Spain could not have control over their colonies and the Criollos took over the power. Spain was sending troops but the cost in soldier’s casualties and money were too high, kind of the same that is happening between the US in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
Furthermore, if Mexico is passing by difficult times with a drug war and a slow economic recuperation, the celebrations go beyond the borders. In the US, from September 15th to October 15th is celebrated the National Hispanic Heritage month. In which the US celebrate their habitants, with or without Hispanic roots, but contrary to popular belief, Cinco de Mayo is not the Mexican Independence day.
Mr. Jack Norton, a historian teacher at Normandale and expert in Spanish and Latino American world said “The centennial and bicentennial events celebrate the best of Mexico, in particularly in a world of images where people see a lot of things on TV or internet with the drug war along the border. People do not pay a lot attention in the reality of Mexico; most of the people just pay attention to big news and stories, and do not pay attention to the fact to the vast majority of Mexico is peaceful.”
Mr. Jack Norton, a historian teacher at Normandale and expert in Spanish and Latino American world said “The centennial and bicentennial events celebrate the best of Mexico, in particularly in a world of images where people see a lot of things on TV or internet with the drug war along the border. People do not pay a lot attention in the reality of Mexico; most of the people just pay attention to big news and stories, and do not pay attention to the fact to the vast majority of Mexico is peaceful.”
Also he said “the National Hispanic Heritage month is a modern politic about how to celebrate the cultural history in the US, and it has to do less with history and more to do with how politicians are elected. Beyond politics, it is important to recognize the diverse contributions of all people living in the US and it is complete valuable to have those months.” About the wrong belief that Cinco de Mayo, Mr. Norton said "it is beautiful and strange but as historian it is important to pay attention to the evidence and what is the past of such date."
According with the government of Mexico, the cost of the bicentennial celebrations in the city was around US$45 millions, but the “final bicentennial bill,” that created a lot of controversy among local politicians, fluctuated around US$230 millions. Plus the cost of the Revolution celebrations on November.
VIVA MEXICO!
