Celebration of Mexican political anniversaries in 2010: Difference between revisions

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The Bicentennial celebrations of the Mexican Independence took place all over the country on September the 15th and 16th of 2010. Celebrations were different in every state, depending on each one's traditions and culture. Northern states, such as Sonora and Chihuahua, had similar celebrations, as well as BCS (Baja California Sur) and BCN (Baja California Norte). All of the local governments of those states made public works like remodeling historic areas and organizing military parades. In Sonora, the project "Plaza Bicentenario" was done. In BCS, the government and the people organized a touristic and cultural corridor, while in BCN there were a series of concerts and cultural activities. Those were some of the projects done for the celebration in these four states.<ref name="Doble Grito"> {{cite news |title=Doble grito dará el alcalde Ramos en celebración del Bicentenario |author=La-Ch.com (2010) |author2= |url=http://la-ch.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5516:doble-grito-delalcalderamosencelebraciondelbicentenario&catid=42:general&ltemid=62 |newspaper=La Ch |location=Tijuana |date=september 9, 2010 |page= |accessdate=October 7, 2010 |language=Spanish |trans_title=The mayor Ramos will make a double "grito" in the Bicentennial celebration. }} </ref>
The Bicentennial celebrations of the Mexican Independence took place all over the country on September the 15th and 16th of 2010. Celebrations were different in every state, depending on each one's traditions and culture. Northern states, such as Sonora and Chihuahua, had similar celebrations, as well as BCS (Baja California Sur) and BCN (Baja California Norte). All of the local governments of those states made public works like remodeling historic areas and organizing military parades. In Sonora, the project "Plaza Bicentenario" was done. In BCS, the government and the people organized a touristic and cultural corridor, while in BCN there were a series of concerts and cultural activities. Those were some of the projects done for the celebration in these four states.<ref name="Doble Grito"> {{cite news |title=Doble grito dará el alcalde Ramos en celebración del Bicentenario |author=La-Ch.com (2010) |author2= |url=http://la-ch.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5516:doble-grito-delalcalderamosencelebraciondelbicentenario&catid=42:general&ltemid=62 |newspaper=La Ch |location=Tijuana |date=september 9, 2010 |page= |accessdate=October 7, 2010 |language=Spanish |trans_title=The mayor Ramos will make a double "grito" in the Bicentennial celebration. }} </ref>


For the Northern states near the Distrito Federal, celebrations were some what different but as important as the main festivity in the capital. In Morelia, Michoacan, after the attack in 2008 of an offender group at the ceremony of "el Grito de Independencia", the government established more security measures this year. An example of this was the use of metal detectors and the presence of the Mexican Army. <ref name=CNN""> {{cite web CNN Mexico |url=http://mexico.cnn.com/nacional/2010/08/24/ciudad-juarez-modifica-la-ceremonia-del-grito-por-razones-de-seguridad |title= Mexico celebra su Bicentenario en medio de dispositivos de seguridad |author=Zapata, B |date=16 |month=September |year=2010 |publisher=CNN Mexico|location=Mexico|language=Spanish |trans_title= Mexico celebrates its bicentennial with security devices |accessdate= October 10, 2010 }} </ref> In Queretaro, the traditional ceremony was performed without conflicts. Some majors began the ceremonies earlier and also took out the prohibition of alcohol. <ref name=Diario Rotativo""> {{cite web rotativo.com.mx |url=http://rotativo.com.mx/queretaro/encabeza-pepe-calzada-festejos-de-bicentenario-en-queretaro/39478/html/ |title= Encabeza Pepe Calzada festejos de bicentenario en Queretaro |author= Zavala,L|date=16 |month= September |year= 2010 |publisher=Diario Rotativo |location=Queretaro |language=Spanish |trans_title= Pepe Calzada direct the bicentennial festivities at Queretaro |accessdate=October 10,2010 }} </ref> In Dolores, Guanajuato, the Cradle of Independence, the president Felipe Calderón re-acted the traditional "Grito" by saying the original dialogue that Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla proclaimed two hundred years ago. <ref name=AFP""> {{cite web www.google.com |url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gbXywGZb0nEzHv-T5BB9CXSgqpww |title= Calderon revive grito original en magnos festejos por bicentenario de Mexico |author=AFP |date=16 |month=September |year=2010 |publisher=AFP |location=Mexico |language= Spanish |trans_title= Calderon reacts the original Grito ceremony on the Bicentennial of Mexico´s festivities |accessdate= October 10, 2010 }} </ref> Finally, Coahuila and Colima did the traditional ceremony with music, dances and fireworks with huge parties in all the municipalities throughout these five northern states. <ref name=Universal""> {{cite web eluniversal.mx | url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/709256.html |title= Bicentenario Coahuila festeja a lo grande |author=Fernández,H |date=16 |month=September |year=2010 |publisher=Universal |location=Mexico |language=Spanish |trans_title= Bicentennial, Coahuila´s big party |accessdate= October 10, 2010 }} </ref>
For the Northern states near the Distrito Federal, celebrations were some what different but as important as the main festivity in the capital. In Morelia, Michoacan, after the attack in 2008 of an offender group at the ceremony of "el Grito de Independencia", the government established more security measures this year. An example of this was the use of metal detectors and the presence of the Mexican Army. <ref name=CNN""> {{cite web|url=http://mexico.cnn.com/nacional/2010/08/24/ciudad-juarez-modifica-la-ceremonia-del-grito-por-razones-de-seguridad |title= Mexico celebra su Bicentenario en medio de dispositivos de seguridad |author=Zapata, B |date=16 |month=September |year=2010 |publisher=CNN Mexico|location=Mexico|language=Spanish |trans_title= Mexico celebrates its bicentennial with security devices |accessdate= October 10, 2010 }} </ref> In Queretaro, the traditional ceremony was performed without conflicts. Some majors began the ceremonies earlier and also took out the prohibition of alcohol. <ref name=Diario Rotativo""> {{cite web rotativo.com.mx |url=http://rotativo.com.mx/queretaro/encabeza-pepe-calzada-festejos-de-bicentenario-en-queretaro/39478/html/ |title= Encabeza Pepe Calzada festejos de bicentenario en Queretaro |author= Zavala,L|date=16 |month= September |year= 2010 |publisher=Diario Rotativo |location=Queretaro |language=Spanish |trans_title= Pepe Calzada direct the bicentennial festivities at Queretaro |accessdate=October 10,2010 }} </ref> In Dolores, Guanajuato, the Cradle of Independence, the president Felipe Calderón re-acted the traditional "Grito" by saying the original dialogue that Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla proclaimed two hundred years ago. <ref name=AFP""> {{cite web www.google.com |url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gbXywGZb0nEzHv-T5BB9CXSgqpww |title= Calderon revive grito original en magnos festejos por bicentenario de Mexico |author=AFP |date=16 |month=September |year=2010 |publisher=AFP |location=Mexico |language= Spanish |trans_title= Calderon reacts the original Grito ceremony on the Bicentennial of Mexico´s festivities |accessdate= October 10, 2010 }} </ref> Finally, Coahuila and Colima did the traditional ceremony with music, dances and fireworks with huge parties in all the municipalities throughout these five northern states. <ref name=Universal""> {{cite web eluniversal.mx | url=http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/709256.html |title= Bicentenario Coahuila festeja a lo grande |author=Fernández,H |date=16 |month=September |year=2010 |publisher=Universal |location=Mexico |language=Spanish |trans_title= Bicentennial, Coahuila´s big party |accessdate= October 10, 2010 }} </ref>


Many states of the northwestern area celebrated the Bicentennial festivities by organizing commemorative parades. In places like Aguascalientes, Durango, Jalisco and Nayarit, the members of the Army were present in the celebrations, but the participation of schools and security institutions characterized the parades. <ref name="Gobierno del estado de Aguascalientes"> {{cite web www.aguascalientes.gob.mx |url= http://www.aguascalientes.gob.mx/gobierno/boletines/boletin_detalle.asp?num=5346 |title= Lealtad, disciplina y compromiso con México, son valores que identifican al Ejército y a las instituciones de seguridad |author=Gobierno del estado de Aguascalientes |date=16 |month=September |year=2010 |publisher=Gobierno del estado de Aguascalientes |location=Mexico |language=Spanish |trans_title=Loyalty, discipline and compromise with Mexico, are values that characterize the Army and the security institutions |accessdate= October 11, 2010 }} </ref> <ref name="El Siglo de Durango"> {{cite web www.elsiglodedurango.com.mx | url=http://www.elsiglodedurango.com.mx/noticia/284129.un-desfile-bicentenario-muy-comun.html |title= Un desfile Bicentenario muy común |author=Estrada, Daniel |date=17 |month=September |year=2010 |publisher=El Siglo de Durango |location=Mexico |language=Spanish |trans_title= A very common Bicentennial parade |accessdate= October 11, 2010 }} </ref> <ref name="Informador"> {{cite web www.informador.com.mx | url=http://www.informador.com.mx/jalisco/2010/234079/6/concluyen-festejo-del-bicentenario-con-desfile-tradicional.htm |title= Concluyen Festejo del Bicentenario con desfile tradicional |author=Mendoza, Mardia |date=16 |month=September |year=2010 |publisher=Informador |location=Mexico |language=Spanish |trans_title= Bicentennial Celebration concludes with a traditional parade |accessdate= October 11, 2010 }} </ref> <ref name="Nayarit, Gobierno del Estado"> {{cite web www.nayarit.gob.mx | url=http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/notes.asp?id=23117 |title= El del Bicentenario, desfile diferente y mejor: Ney González |author=Gobierno del estado de Nayarit |date=16 |month=September |year=2010 |publisher=Nayarit, Gobierno del Estado |location=Mexico |language=Spanish |trans_title= The Bicentennial parade, different and better: Ney González |accessdate= October 11, 2010 }} </ref> In Aguascalientes, the civic-military parade was made up by 2,040 elements from different schools, as well as 370 members of the Secretaría de Seguridad Pública y Tránsito. <ref name="Gobierno del estado de Aguascalientes"/> In Durango, there were more than 1,500 students from secondary, high school and professional levels, along with 68 professors. <ref name="El Siglo de Durango"/> In the case of Jalisco, approximately 3,600 people participated, including soldiers, policemen, some members of the Secretaría de Seguridad Pública, etc. <ref name="Informador"/> The Governor of Nayarit, Ney González, emphasized that it was because of children, youths and schools that the parade in the state succeeded. <ref name="Nayarit, Gobierno del Estado"/>
Many states of the northwestern area celebrated the Bicentennial festivities by organizing commemorative parades. In places like Aguascalientes, Durango, Jalisco and Nayarit, the members of the Army were present in the celebrations, but the participation of schools and security institutions characterized the parades. <ref name="Gobierno del estado de Aguascalientes"> {{cite web www.aguascalientes.gob.mx |url= http://www.aguascalientes.gob.mx/gobierno/boletines/boletin_detalle.asp?num=5346 |title= Lealtad, disciplina y compromiso con México, son valores que identifican al Ejército y a las instituciones de seguridad |author=Gobierno del estado de Aguascalientes |date=16 |month=September |year=2010 |publisher=Gobierno del estado de Aguascalientes |location=Mexico |language=Spanish |trans_title=Loyalty, discipline and compromise with Mexico, are values that characterize the Army and the security institutions |accessdate= October 11, 2010 }} </ref> <ref name="El Siglo de Durango"> {{cite web www.elsiglodedurango.com.mx | url=http://www.elsiglodedurango.com.mx/noticia/284129.un-desfile-bicentenario-muy-comun.html |title= Un desfile Bicentenario muy común |author=Estrada, Daniel |date=17 |month=September |year=2010 |publisher=El Siglo de Durango |location=Mexico |language=Spanish |trans_title= A very common Bicentennial parade |accessdate= October 11, 2010 }} </ref> <ref name="Informador"> {{cite web www.informador.com.mx | url=http://www.informador.com.mx/jalisco/2010/234079/6/concluyen-festejo-del-bicentenario-con-desfile-tradicional.htm |title= Concluyen Festejo del Bicentenario con desfile tradicional |author=Mendoza, Mardia |date=16 |month=September |year=2010 |publisher=Informador |location=Mexico |language=Spanish |trans_title= Bicentennial Celebration concludes with a traditional parade |accessdate= October 11, 2010 }} </ref> <ref name="Nayarit, Gobierno del Estado"> {{cite web www.nayarit.gob.mx | url=http://www.nayarit.gob.mx/notes.asp?id=23117 |title= El del Bicentenario, desfile diferente y mejor: Ney González |author=Gobierno del estado de Nayarit |date=16 |month=September |year=2010 |publisher=Nayarit, Gobierno del Estado |location=Mexico |language=Spanish |trans_title= The Bicentennial parade, different and better: Ney González |accessdate= October 11, 2010 }} </ref> In Aguascalientes, the civic-military parade was made up by 2,040 elements from different schools, as well as 370 members of the Secretaría de Seguridad Pública y Tránsito. <ref name="Gobierno del estado de Aguascalientes"/> In Durango, there were more than 1,500 students from secondary, high school and professional levels, along with 68 professors. <ref name="El Siglo de Durango"/> In the case of Jalisco, approximately 3,600 people participated, including soldiers, policemen, some members of the Secretaría de Seguridad Pública, etc. <ref name="Informador"/> The Governor of Nayarit, Ney González, emphasized that it was because of children, youths and schools that the parade in the state succeeded. <ref name="Nayarit, Gobierno del Estado"/>

Revision as of 23:41, 13 October 2010

Official logo.

During the year 2010, Mexico celebrates both the 200th anniversary of its Independence and 100th anniversary of its Revolution.[1] The entire year has been proclaimed by President Felipe Calderón as "Año de la Patria," or "Year of the Nation." [2] 16 September 1810 is the day of the "Grito de Dolores" or Miguel Hidalgo's call to take up arms against Spanish colonial government.[3] The start of the Mexican Revolution is celebrated 20 November 1910, when Francisco "Pancho" Villa and Pascual Orozco led the first insurrectionist attack.[4] Events and other promotions of these celebrations are designed to the linking Mexico's identity and historic continuity.[1] During a speech at the inauguration of the Casa de Allende (Allende's House) Historic Museum, Felipe Calderón called upon Mexico to use the upcoming anniversaries to reflect on where the country has been and to think about what kind of Mexico descendents will inherit in the future. He said the vision of the insurgents of the War of Independence was forward, not backward, so every celebration of these past events must consider the future as well.[5] In the Zocalo (main square) in Mexico City a large digital clock is counting down to the 15 September 2010 and 20 November 2010 dates.[6] Similar countdown clocks are located in the cities of Cuernavaca,[7] Tlaxcala,[8] Chilpancingo[9], Tepic, Nayarit.[10] and all the other capital cities of the 31 states.

Preparations at the national level

The first countdown clock on the Zocalo. The current one hangs over where 20 de noviembre Street meets the Zocalo.

The national committee to organize celebrations for both events was created by decree in March 2006 by President Vicente Fox, after Congress declared that the year 2010 should be dedicated equally to both anniversaries. The committee was made up of member from across the political spectrum, not just Fox's PAN party, and this committee named Cuauhtémoc Cárdenas Solórzano, the founder of the PRD party as its head. After the disputed presidential elections between Felipe Calderón (PAN) and Andrés Manuel López Obrador (PRD) in July 2006, Cárdenas resigned from the committee in protest. The following March, Calderón announced that he would be heading the committee but still wanted the support of everyone, regardless of political affiliation.[11]

Calderón officially installed the Organizing Committee of the Commemoration of the Bicentennial of the Start of the Movement of National Independence and Centennial of the Start of the Revolution in March 2007. In 2007, at the 97th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution, Calderón presented the Base Program of the Commemoration of the Bicentennial of the Start of Independence and the Centennial of the Start of the Mexican Revolution. The Consejo Nacional para la Cultura y las Artes (CONACULTA) was charged with advising the committee.[11]

Preparations by the federal government were international in scope as well. Mexico's 147 diplomatic missions in various parts of the world were involved in celebrating and promoting Mexico's Bicentennial during 2010 with cultural events designed to show the world that "Mexico is a country that commemorates its past and visualizes its future."[12] Mexico is also involved with the Grupo Bicentenario de Latinoamérica (Latinamerican Bicentennial Group). Programs and activities were coordinated among a number of countries for between 2009 and 2011 as many Latin American countries celebrate their bicentennials. This nations include countries such as Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Paraguay and Venezuela coordinating events such as debates, publications, celebrations and festivals.[13]

On 6 September 2009, Felipe Calderón lit the "Fuego Bicentenario" or Bicentennial Fire in front of the National Palace. This flame traveled all around Mexico over the next twelve months,ending on the date of the Bicentennial of Independence.[14]

Preparations by federal entity

All 31 states and the Federal District have up their own Bicentennial/Centennial commissions, with the first meeting of state commissions in Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato, which was declared the "Capital of the Bicentennial." [11] Most events related to promoting the anniversaries in Mexico City involved cultural events such as the "Casa de América Latina," which was a mobile museum, an effort headed by Carlos Fuentes.In various cities in Spain, the city sponsored an exposition called "Ciudad de México, Ciudad solidaria, Capital de asilos" (Mexico City: Capital of Solidarity, Capital of asylum), consisting mostly of Instamatic photographs. It looked back on the country's role as a refuge for political refugees from fascists regimes of World War II as well as from other Latin American countries. Closer to home, a thirteen-chapter television series with the title of "Expedición 1808, travesía por los bicentenarios de Iberoamérica" (Expedition 1808: a journey through the Bicentennials of Latin America). It will focus on seven capital cities, including Madrid and will be hosted by seven young people.[15] Physical preparations in the city include a Commemorative Arch on Paseo de la Reforma, the new Mexican Children's Library, a Virtual Museum, the movement of the General Archive of the Nation to a new building.[16] The Turkish government is restoring a clock given to Mexico for its Centennial celebrations by the Ottoman Empire.[12]

As of August 2009, most of the preparations consisted of restoring historical buildings and sites related to the Bicentennial or the Centennial. Museums in Guanajuato state such as the Casa de Allende Museum, the Museum of Dolores Hidalgo, and the Alhóndiga de Granaditas have been remodeled and/or inaugurated at a cost of seven million pesos.[5] In Querétaro, the 688,925 m2 (170-acre) The new "Bicentennial Park" was inaugurated in the north of the capital.[17] In Mexico State, six cities were declared "Bicentennial Cities," and slated for improvements in their industrial zones, roadways, parks and public space.[11] In Guerrero, the National Institute of Anthropology and History is working to declare the entire old downtown of Chilpancingo as a historic site, due to the multiple events of both the War of Independence and the Revolution that occurred there.[18] The state of Nuevo León had 156 projects related to the two anniversaries[19] and the state of Chihuahua will be celebrating the 300th anniversary of its capital city along with the other two.[20]

Projects associated with the Bicentennial of Independence/Centennial of the Revolution

Commemorative routes

The most visible preparation to date in Mexico itself is the appearance of "Ruta 2010" signs on many of the nation's highways and roads in most Mexican states. These routes have been created to link monuments related to the two events as well as movements of armies and other key players of both the Bicentennial and Centennial. The Secretariat of Communications and Transportation is in charge of allocating resources to signal these roads and provide tourist information both on their website and on the roads themselves.[1][21] These routes connect historical sites like the Casa del Marques in the historic center of Mexico City, the San Diego Fort Museum in Acapulco, the Museum of the Viceroyalty, the National Museum of Anthropology, the National History Museum, the Casa de Allede Museum, the Casa Morelos Museum, the Alhóndiga de Granaditas and the Museum of the Casa of Padre Hidalgo.[1]

These roads are subdivided by the specific event they trace. The Independence Road, which includes the Freedom Route, follows the path of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla from Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato, to the state of Chihuahua, passing through a number of other states such as Querétaro and Michoacán. This road traces the first campaigns of the War of Independence to the site of Hidalgo's execution.[1] The Sentiments of the Nation Route, named after the eponymous document by José María Morelos y Pavón,[18] follows his campaigns through the states of Michoacán, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Morelos, Mexico State, Puebla, Veracruz and Chiapas. The Route of the Three Guarantees maps out the campaigns fought by Agustín de Iturbide, who brought the War for Independence to a close in 1821. The runs from Iguala, Guerrero, to Mexico City.[1]

Routes following the major events of the Mexican Revolution include the Democracy Route, mostly outlining the road taken by Francisco I. Madero from Ciudad Juárez to Mexico City after being elected president in 1911. The route starts in Parras, Coahuila, his hometown, and passes through the cities of San Luis Potosí, Ciudad Juárez, Piedras Negras, Torreón, Zacatecas, Aguascalientes and León. The Zapatista Route traces the operations of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation through the states of Morelos, Puebla and Mexico State. The Constitutionalist Revolution Route is the conjunction of the routes of Venustiano Carranza, Álvaro Obregón, Francisco Villa and Pablo González Garza, four other key players of the Revolution. These routes wander through just about all of the northern and central states.[1]

Infrastructure projects

Physical preparations in the city include a Commemorative Arch on Paseo de la Reforma, the new Mexican Children's Library, a Virtual Museum, the movement of the General Archive of the Nation to a new building.[16] The Turkish government is restoring a clock given to Mexico for its Centennial celebrations by the Ottoman Empire.[12]


As of August 2009, most of the preparations consisted of restoring historical buildings and sites related to the Bicentennial or the Centennial. Museums in Guanajuato state such as the Casa de Allende Museum, the Museum of Dolores Hidalgo, and the Alhóndiga de Granaditas have been remodeled and/or inaugurated at a cost of seven million pesos.[5] In Querétaro, the 688,925 m2 (170-acre) The new "Bicentennial Park" was inaugurated in the north of the capital.[17] In Mexico State, six cities were declared "Bicentennial Cities," and slated for improvements in their industrial zones, roadways, parks and public space.[11] In Guerrero, the National Institute of Anthropology and History is working to declare the entire old downtown of Chilpancingo as a historic site, due to the multiple events of both the War of Independence and the Revolution that occurred there.[18] The state of Nuevo León had 156 projects related to the two anniversaries[19] and the state of Chihuahua will be celebrating the 300th anniversary of its capital city along with the other two.[20]

Cultural projects

Highlighted among the many projects designed are exhibits of pre-Hispanic, Spanish, modern and contemporary Mexican art at the most important capitals of the world, historic routes, shows, publications, seminars, the opening of 10 new archeological sites, maintenance to the country's most important pre-Hispanic sites and the remodeling of thirty museums. This work involves a complex museography and the consolidation of historic buildings in six states to commemorate the Independence and historic buildings in eight states to commemorate the Revolution, with a budget of over 300 million pesos.[1]

The television network Televisa is producing a historical "television-novel" to commemorate the Bicentennial, which will be titled "Senda de gloria" or "Path of Glory." It is being produced with the cooperation of the Office of the President of Mexico.[22] More academically, one of the major projects is the publication of a fourteen-volume work discussion how Mexico has arrived at the 21st century, written by more than 100 researchers from the El Colegio de México. One of the volumes is a Dictionary of the Spanish of Mexico, another is an analysis of Mexico's condition in the 21st century and a number are devoted to the history of each of the states and the economy of the country.[16]

Bicentennial Olympics

One of the biggest projects of the government are the "Bicentennial Olympics". It consists in a series of sports events, from swimming to athletics, from table tennis to basketball . The inauguration was in Av. Reforma in Mexico City . Michael Phelps was invited to a race in the inauguration of this Olympics, as well as many other famous and important athletes. The events are taking place in many schools that have good facilities to receive the teams of basketball, tennis, table tennis, swimming, karate, judo and many others.

El Grito and 20 November dates

Origin of El Grito

20 November

The two main reasons for Mexicans discontent and revolution causes where Dictator Porfirio Díaz and the plantations owners. Although fighting broke out earlier, the Mexican Revolution officially started on November 20, 1910. However, this date was chosen by Francisco Madero in his Plan of San Luis. Porfirio Díaz who was president for 20 years, told an American journalist that he was looking forward to retire and that he would welcome to see an opposition party emerge. This was the Creelman Interview and stirred the entire nation. The industrial revolution brought plantation owners to own pretty much every bit of land that had been up for sale causing pressure on peasants who decided to oppose hacienderos. Today, the beginning of the Mexican Revolution is commemorated as a public Mexican holiday. Two of the 7 annual public holidays in Mexico today stem from the Mexican Revolution: Constitution Day, February 5 and Revolution Day November 20.[23]

Events of 15 and 16 September 2010

Mexico City

Other parts of the country

Northern States

The Bicentennial celebrations of the Mexican Independence took place all over the country on September the 15th and 16th of 2010. Celebrations were different in every state, depending on each one's traditions and culture. Northern states, such as Sonora and Chihuahua, had similar celebrations, as well as BCS (Baja California Sur) and BCN (Baja California Norte). All of the local governments of those states made public works like remodeling historic areas and organizing military parades. In Sonora, the project "Plaza Bicentenario" was done. In BCS, the government and the people organized a touristic and cultural corridor, while in BCN there were a series of concerts and cultural activities. Those were some of the projects done for the celebration in these four states.[24]

For the Northern states near the Distrito Federal, celebrations were some what different but as important as the main festivity in the capital. In Morelia, Michoacan, after the attack in 2008 of an offender group at the ceremony of "el Grito de Independencia", the government established more security measures this year. An example of this was the use of metal detectors and the presence of the Mexican Army. [25] In Queretaro, the traditional ceremony was performed without conflicts. Some majors began the ceremonies earlier and also took out the prohibition of alcohol. [26] In Dolores, Guanajuato, the Cradle of Independence, the president Felipe Calderón re-acted the traditional "Grito" by saying the original dialogue that Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla proclaimed two hundred years ago. [27] Finally, Coahuila and Colima did the traditional ceremony with music, dances and fireworks with huge parties in all the municipalities throughout these five northern states. [28]

Many states of the northwestern area celebrated the Bicentennial festivities by organizing commemorative parades. In places like Aguascalientes, Durango, Jalisco and Nayarit, the members of the Army were present in the celebrations, but the participation of schools and security institutions characterized the parades. [29] [30] [31] [32] In Aguascalientes, the civic-military parade was made up by 2,040 elements from different schools, as well as 370 members of the Secretaría de Seguridad Pública y Tránsito. [29] In Durango, there were more than 1,500 students from secondary, high school and professional levels, along with 68 professors. [30] In the case of Jalisco, approximately 3,600 people participated, including soldiers, policemen, some members of the Secretaría de Seguridad Pública, etc. [31] The Governor of Nayarit, Ney González, emphasized that it was because of children, youths and schools that the parade in the state succeeded. [32]

South of the country

The south of México usually considers the states that are below México City (Tabasco, Veracruz, Guerrero, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Campeche, Quintana Roo y Yucatán). In general those states celebrated, as the rest of the country, with the traditional “grito”-the 15th- and a military parade-the 16th; however, the celebrations distinguished by the presence of each state traditions and some political, social and weather problems that limited the original plans. Although the expectation of the date was overshadowed by other news, there were special spectacles and events in each state that had the participation of thousands of Mexicans.

In the state of Oaxaca, the “grito” was given at 10:56 pm, in the Zocalo of the city. The Mexican National Anthem was interpreted by Mrs. America the Bicentennial Oaxaca 2010, followed by the lights of fireworks that illuminated the Cathedral. The sky was painted green, white and red, giving a show full of lights and colors all over the Zocalo of Oaxaca City. September 16 began with the hoisting of flag, on the “Alameda de Leon”. The civic-military parade began at 10 am starting from the park "El Llano” and ending in “Plaza del Zocalo”. The army, students and firefighters marched in front of the Palace Museum. When the parade finished, the Mexican national anthem was sung by the voices of the thousands of people that attended to the Zocalo of the city.[33]

In Chiapas the Bicentennial Celebration was very similar to Oaxaca. The “grito” was given in the night of September 15. The military parade of the following day had the participation of the Mexican army, high schools, universities, and from public and private institutions which marched with enthusiasm and pride, in honor of their country.[34]

Despite the rain, in Merida, Yucatan people assisted to the “Monumento a la Patria” to celebrate Mexico’s Bicentennial. The famous singer Juan Gabriel was the attraction of the night, interpreting his most famous songs. The civil- military parade started at 8:00am in the “Plaza Principal” of the city. The army, air force, Armada de Mexico, students, and firefighters were part of the parade that fascinated the families present in this event..[35]

Reflection

Reflections have been made about the Mexican progress since the independence. For example, Luis Arriaga Valenzuela, the director of the human rights center “Centro de Derechos Humanos Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez, AC” in an article written for the Mexican newspaper “El Universal” pointed out that The Bicentennial represents an opportunity to make a reflection on the current situation of Mexico and the situation it had 200 years ago at the beginning of its independence. He considers that among the freedom advances that Mexico has had in these 200 years,can be mentioned: greater people participation, more plurality, rights guarantee organisms, etc. On the other hand, some problems persist and there are new ones for the list of problems. He says that the country side is abandoned, that the indigenous autonomy has not been recognized to the full, and that there is still imposition of certain projects that differs from the will of the communities. He also says that there is a lack of human right protection policies. The Mexican news agency “Milenio” showed another way to approach to the Bicentennial reflection. The national gallery “Galeria de Palacio Nacional” was inaugurated on September 20, during the celebration dates, showing an exhibition called “Mexico 200 años. La patria en construccion”. This exhibition shows elements related to key moments and key personalities for the independence. It includes more than 550 historical pieces. Some examples are the independence act, the sword of Morelos (Independence leader) the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe that was used as an independence movement banner, and the fundamental document for the declaration of the independence, known as “Sentimientos de la Nación” . According to the opinion of the man in charge of restoring and looking after the pieces of the exhibition, whose name is mentioned as Miguel Ángel Fernandez, it is the right moment for Mexicans to make a reflection about these 200 years of independent life; they can do it after having contact with the moments that leaded to the construction of the country. Fernandez also referred to the importance of the building where the exposition takes place, Palacio National, which is the location of the executive power, where the presidents carry on “El grito”, and the bell of the independence is rang. He said that the building itself is emblematic and had to be in the exhibition program. He also quoted Diego Rivera with the expression “It is the hearth of the Nation” (Palacio Nacional).


References

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External links