Diez y Seis (Independence Day) 2025 in Mexico

Mexico is the ultimate destination on September 16th, as it marks Mexican Independence Day. This lively holiday celebrates Mexico's 1810 declaration of independence from Spain and is brimming with national pride, vibrant parades, mariachi concerts, and an abundance of delicious food.

Birth of Mexican Independence

Long ago, Mexico endured nearly 300 years as a colony under the harsh rule of the Kingdom of Spain. The indigenous population faced oppression, and their personal wealth and farmland were seized. In the town of Dolores, a Catholic priest named Father Hidalgo had enough. On September 16th, 1810, he rang his church bell and delivered a powerful speech for independence, demanding an end to Spanish rule. This speech is famously known as the Grito de Dolores.

The brutal Mexican War of Independence ensued, lasting a decade and culminating in the Declaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire in Mexico City on September 28, 1821, following the collapse of the royal government and the military triumph of independence forces. Father Hidalgo is now revered as the Father of Mexican Independence, and since 1810, Mexican Independence Day has been celebrated nationwide on September 16th.

Festivities Highlights

Mexicans celebrate their Independence Day with fervor, marked by a national holiday. Festivities kick off at midnight on September 15th in city squares across the country, where city mayors deliver a stirring cry for freedom, echoing Father Hidalgo's historic call. In the capital, this honor is performed by the President.

The celebrations continue with historical reenactments, food, and music, culminating in spectacular fireworks that light up the sky. These national holidays unite thousands of Mexican families who gather in main squares, city centers, and city hall buildings to commemorate the anniversary of the Cry of Independence.