Mexico's Independence Day is celebrated on September 16 each year. This date commemorates the moment in 1810 when Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla gave the famous "Grito de Dolores" (Cry of Dolores), calling for Mexico’s liberation from Spanish rule and marking the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence. The war lasted about 11 years, culminating in the official recognition of Mexico's independence from Spain in 1821. The celebrations typically start on the night of September 15, with the President of Mexico reenacting the Grito from the balcony of the National Palace in Mexico City, ringing the same bell Hidalgo rang in 1810. The actual Independence Day celebrations on September 16 include parades, fireworks, and patriotic events throughout the country.
