Mexico´s Independence Day, 1

Taken from: www.gomexico.about.com
September 15th, 16th

In the early hours of September 16th, 1810, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a priest in the small town of Dolores, Guanajuato, rang the church bell to gather the townspeople. He called for the people of Mexico to rise up against the Spanish Crown, thus initiating Mexico's War of Independence. The country did not achieve independence until 1821, but it is this event, known as the Grito de Dolores which is commemorated every year in town squares across Mexico.

The largest Independence Day celebration takes place in Mexico City's Zocalo, which is decorated from the beginning of September with red, white and green lights and Mexican flags. On the 15th, at 11 pm the President of the Republic goes out onto the central balcony of the National Palace (Palacio Nacional), rings the bell (the same bell Hidalgo rang in 1810, brought to Mexico City in 1886) and cries to the people gathered in the square below, who enthusiastically respond "¡Viva!"
The words of the Grito may vary, but they go something like this:
¡Vivan los heroes que nos dieron patria! ¡Viva!¡Viva Hidalgo! ¡Viva!¡Viva Morelos! ¡Viva!¡Viva Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez! ¡Viva!¡Viva Allende! ¡Viva!¡Vivan Aldama y Matamoros! ¡Viva!¡Viva nuestra independencia! ¡Viva!¡Viva Mexico! ¡Viva!¡Viva Mexico! ¡Viva!¡Viva Mexico! ¡Viva! At the end of the third ¡Viva Mexico! the crowd goes wild waving flags and ringing noisemakers. Then fireworks light up the sky as the crowd cheers. Later the Mexican national anthem is sung.

The celebrations described above, are played out in most Mexican communities. Before the president or mayor comes out at 11PM, entertainment and food are being enjoyed by thousands.
In Playa del Carmen, a musical group, who would perform in the evening, tests out the sound centre in el centro! The time was around 1PM in the afternoon. The crowds began coming at 7PM.

This display was on the right side of Playa del Carmen´s city hall. On the left was Viva.¨ Viva Mexico (Bravo Mexico)

There were several big screens in the town centre so the crowds could see the many kinds of entertainment and speeches. The mayor spoke from the top of the ¨palace¨or city hall.