That's My Story

By the time you’re reading this, a goodly portion of Mexico’s population will probably be sleeping it off and trying to muster up the energy to go back to work and continue on with the week.

I like how Mexico parties. In many cases, unlike in the U.S. remembers our holiday days like Memorial Day, President’s Day..even 4th of July only because it’s a 3 day weekend or an opportunity to hammer beers at the beach or river, Mexico truly seems to savor it’s fiestas.

Sometimes, in fact, as I immerse myself deeper and deeper into the culture, it seems that many of my Mexican friends work ONLY so that they can party! Often, since many folks down here work 6 days a week and get only Sunday off, a fiesta after a 60 –hour-week seems as good an excuse as any to crank out the barbecue and drop more cervezas into ice.

The weekend of Sept. 13 through the 17th here in Mexico is probably bigger than Carnivale!

It all revolves around Sept. 16th. That’s officially Mexico’s Independence Day. It’s the day of the “Grito de Dolores” (Cry of Pain) In the dawn hours of 1810, the peasant and Indian class of Mexico finally got fed up with 3 centuries of abuse and oppression by Spain. Spaniards from the mother-country as well as those born in Mexico had been treating the new world lands and it’s people like the proverbial red-headed-step child.

In those hours of September 16th, Mexican hero and martyr, Padre Miguel Hidalgo, a true Renaissance man and humanitarian, turned from priest to warrior general. Screaming “Viva Mexico,” his raggedy army of rancheros, Indians, Mestizos and other oppressed groups charged the Spanish artillery and lancers with pitchforks and machetes. It was a bloodbath but the peones won. It was a slaughter fueled hundreds of years of passion, hate and racism on both sides. The good padre regretted the loss of so much life, but was unable to stop the pent-up rage of his insurgent army.

The Padre and his army were later betrayed and Hidaldo was summarily executed later, but the date became the firebrand for 11 more years or revolution that finally resulted in independence and sovereignty. Every revolution starts somewhere and Sept. 16th is the day a bunch of pissed-off Mexicans finally said, “Enough is enough!”

Forget Cinco de Mayo. It was an important, but minor battle comparatively speaking. However, due to the heavy marketing by certain beer companies, most Americans mistakenly assume it’s a momentous day because their local cantina in Long Beach, California has 2 for 1 beer and tacos. Most American’s have no clue.

It’s much like many of the Mexican hotels and restaurants doing huge promotions for 4th of July here in Baja. It’s for the benefit of the gringos. Most have no idea that it’s America’s Independence Day. Come to think of it, even some Americans I know don’t have a clue as to what happened in 1776 on that day.

However, Mexico rolls differently. They do indeed know their big day and the country revels in it. And sure…they par-TAY!

This year, the 16th falls (fell) on Tuesday. Folks start the fiesta barbecues on Saturday and carry it to Sunday. Technically, Monday the 15th is a half-day work. But who works on a half-day Monday that’s preceded by a weekend and then the following Tuesday is the biggest holiday of the year?

So, by Monday afternoon ,the entire country is pretty much in fiesta mode. Fresh tortillas, tamales, chicarrones, carnitas and carne asada seems to waft down every street and case loads of beer walk out of every little super-mini-market on every corner.

By Monday night, everything not related to the party is closed and huge blocks in most large cities have been closed off to massive street fairs featuring rides, bandstands, fireworks, parades, wandering mariachis, speeches, and more food and beer!

Then at midnight, just like Americans watch the big Times Square ball drop in New Years, “El Grito” (the yell) starts in Mexico City! “Viva Mexico!” “Viva Mexico!” “Viva Mexico” goes off in unison as the clock strikes midnight in each city. It’s thunderous. It’s a whole nation screaming as their forefathers charged the Spanish cannons armed with sticks and kitchen knives back in 1810.

And then the whole country really starts to fiesta long into the night and onto the next day! “Viva Mexico!” “Viva Hidalgo!”

That’s my story. If you ever want to reach me, my e-mail is riplipboy@aol.com.