On September 16, 1810, in the town of Dolores the parish priest, Miguel Hidalgo declared himself in an ‘open revolt against Spanish rule from the pulpit of his church’, beginning the Mexican War of Independence. The term Grito de Dolores in English means, Cry of Dolores.
He began his fight against the injustices of the Spanish colonial system, he had an army up to six hundred men. Father Miguel Hidalgo was seen as a leading religious mind of Mexico, as he served the San Nicolas Obisbo academy. Miguel Hidalgo was banished to Dolores for his questionable record in the church. Under the Spanish system, his family had been ruined when the crown forced the church to call in debts’. He believed in the new philosophy that suggested it was allowable to overthrow unjust tyrants.
The leader of Queretaro, Ignacio Allende felt the group needed someone with moral authority to further their conspiracy. Miguel Hidalgo was recruited earlier in the year. They recruited royal soldiers, officers, royalist barracks and garrisons to join their cause, talking about what a post-Spanish society would be like in Mexico.
Unfortunately, on September 15, 1810, their conspiracy of having a post-Spanish society in Mexico was discovered. At the time Ignacio Allende was in the town of Dolores and he didn’t know what to do other than to go into hiding. Miguel Hidalgo instilled that he should go forward and not hide in Dolores. The next morning on September 15, 1810, Miguel Hidalgo rang the church bells, receiving attention from the workers in the nearby fields. Miguel Hidalgo introduced the notion, “Know this, my children, that knowing your patriotism, I have put myself at the head of a movement begun some hours ago, to wrest away power from the Europeans and give it to you.” The workers responded enthusiastically towards his words.
Miguel Hidalgo fought the royalist forces to the gates of Mexico City. Miguel Hidalgo and Ignacio Allende were later captured and executed approximately ten months after the “Cry of Dolores”. Even though his revolution was short-lived, many people soon picked up his beliefs.
Today in Mexico, people celebrate Mexican Independence Day with, Mexican food, flags, dancing, fireworks, re-enactments and colourful decorations.
Will you be celebrating at Fiesta with a Margarita, or Mexican beer for Miguel Hidalgo and Ignacio Allende?