If you ask a random person on the street in Chicago or Los Angeles when they think the biggest Mexican holiday is, they’ll almost certainly say May 5th. They are wrong. It’s actually a bit of a running joke in Mexico. Cinco de Mayo is barely a thing south of the border, except maybe in Puebla. If you really want to know when was Mexican Independence Day and why it actually matters, you have to look at the middle of September. Specifically, the night of September 15th and the full day of September 16th.
It wasn't a quick win. Not even close.
The whole thing started with a literal scream. Imagine a small, dusty town called Dolores in 1810. A priest named Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla rang the church bells in the middle of the night. He didn't give a polished political speech. He gave a battle cry. This is known as the Grito de Dolores. Because of that specific moment, the celebration starts late on the 15th, even though the official holiday is the 16th.
When Was Mexican Independence Day Set in Stone?
History is messy. While the revolt kicked off in 1810, Mexico didn't actually become an independent nation until 1821. That’s eleven years of brutal, grinding guerrilla warfare. So, when people ask when was Mexican Independence Day, they are usually referring to the anniversary of the start of the war, not the end of it. It’s a bit like how Americans celebrate July 4th (the Declaration) rather than the date the British actually left New York.
Why the 16th? Because that’s when Hidalgo rallied the local indigenous and mestizo populations to rise up against three centuries of Spanish colonial rule.
The social hierarchy back then was incredibly rigid. You had the peninsulares (people born in Spain) at the top, then the criollos (people of Spanish descent born in Mexico). Hidalgo was a criollo. He was frustrated. But more than that, he was witnessing the horrific treatment of the lower classes. When he rang that bell, he wasn't just asking for a new government. He was asking for a total social upheaval.
The Midnight Tradition
If you go to Mexico City today, specifically to the Zócalo, you’ll see the President stand on the balcony of the National Palace at 11:00 PM on September 15th. They ring the same bell Hidalgo used. They shout "¡Viva México!" and the names of the fallen heroes.
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It’s loud. It’s colorful. There are fireworks that make your ears ring for days.
People often get confused because the party starts on the 15th, but the "day" is the 16th. This isn't just a quirk of history. Rumor has it that Porfirio Díaz, who was the president/dictator for decades, moved the Grito ceremony to the night of the 15th because it happened to be his birthday. Talk about an ego trip. Whether that's 100% the reason or just a happy coincidence for him, the tradition stuck. Now, the 16th is the day for the massive military parades and the recovery from the previous night's tequila.
Why Everyone Thinks It's Cinco de Mayo
We have to talk about the confusion. It’s honestly kind of exhausting for Mexicans living abroad. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Battle of Puebla in 1862. That was a fight against the French, long after the Spanish were gone.
Mexico won a single battle against a much stronger French army. It was a morale booster. But it didn't change the government.
Marketing changed everything. In the 1980s, beer companies in the U.S. saw an opportunity to create a "Mexican St. Patrick's Day." They poured millions into advertising. It worked. Now, Americans drink more margarita mix on May 5th than they do during the actual independence celebrations in September. If you want to be "that person" at the party who actually knows their stuff, remind them that when was Mexican Independence Day is a September question, not a May one.
The Long Road to 1821
Hidalgo didn't live to see a free Mexico. He was captured and executed less than a year after his famous scream. His head was actually hung in a cage on the corner of a granary in Guanajuato as a warning to others. Spain was not messing around.
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The mantle was picked up by José María Morelos, another priest. He was a brilliant military strategist. He actually organized a congress and wrote a document called Sentimientos de la Nación, which called for the end of slavery and racial divisions. He was also executed.
- 1810: The Grito de Dolores (The start).
- 1813: The Congress of Chilpancingo (Declaration of Independence).
- 1821: The Treaty of Córdoba (The actual end).
It wasn't until a guy named Agustín de Iturbide—who, ironically, had previously fought against the rebels—switched sides that the war ended. He teamed up with the rebel leader Vicente Guerrero. They marched into Mexico City on September 27, 1821.
So, technically, the "real" independence happened on September 27. But humans are sentimental. We prefer the story of the underdog priest and the midnight bell over the story of a military general signing a treaty. We celebrate the spark, not the ink.
What the Celebrations Actually Look Like
It's not just about the Grito. If you’re in a Mexican household in mid-September, you’re eating Chiles en Nogada.
This dish is the literal embodiment of the holiday. It’s a poblano chili stuffed with meat and fruit, covered in a white walnut cream sauce, and topped with red pomegranate seeds. Green, white, and red. The colors of the flag. It was supposedly created by nuns in Puebla to honor Iturbide when he visited the city after signing the treaty of independence.
It’s delicious. It’s also incredibly hard to make correctly.
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- Pozole: A hearty corn soup that has been around since Aztec times.
- Tequila and Mezcal: Obviously.
- Papel Picado: The cut-paper banners you see hanging over streets.
- Mariachi: Expect to hear "Cielito Lindo" at least forty times.
The 16th is a national holiday, meaning everything shuts down. Banks are closed. Schools are empty. The streets are filled with people wearing traditional dress—think charro suits and china poblana dresses. It’s a day of intense national pride that goes way beyond just having a drink. It’s about identity in a country that was forged through a very violent collision of European and Indigenous worlds.
The Role of Women in 1810
History books usually focus on Hidalgo and Morelos, but they weren't alone. Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez, known as La Corregidora, was the one who actually warned the rebels that the Spanish authorities had discovered their plot.
Without her, there is no Grito. She was the one who sent a message to Hidalgo telling him he had to move now. If she hadn't taken that risk, the leaders would have been arrested in their beds, and the revolution might have died before it started. She's a national hero, and you’ll see her face on coins and statues all over the country.
Leona Vicario is another name you should know. she was essentially the financier and head of communications for the rebels. She used her fortune to buy supplies and used secret codes to pass information. She was like a 19th-century intelligence officer.
Actionable Ways to Celebrate Respectfully
If you want to honor Mexican culture and the history of when was Mexican Independence Day, skip the "taco Tuesday" specials on May 5th and do something meaningful in September.
- Seek out authentic food. Find a local Mexican-owned spot that is serving Chiles en Nogada or Pozole Guerrerense in mid-September.
- Watch the Grito. Most major Spanish-language networks (and many YouTube channels) broadcast the ceremony from the Zócalo live on the night of September 15th. It’s a powerful piece of performance art and history combined.
- Learn the names. Move beyond just knowing "the priest." Look into the lives of Vicente Guerrero (Mexico's first Black president) or Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez.
- Support Mexican artisans. If you’re buying decorations, look for actual papel picado or textiles made by artisans rather than plastic mass-produced junk.
- Visit Guanajuato or Dolores Hidalgo. If you’re planning a trip to Mexico, skip the beach for a few days and head to the "Cradle of Independence." The history in those cobblestone streets is palpable.
Independence wasn't a single moment in time. It was a decade of sacrifice that fundamentally changed the map of North America. Knowing the difference between a minor battle in May and a nation-defining revolution in September isn't just about trivia; it's about respecting the actual story of a neighbor.
Next time you see the green, white, and red flags flying high in September, you'll know exactly why those church bells are ringing. It's for 1810. It's for the scream that changed everything.