Every 15th of September, at night, the passage of the independence is reenacted in every plaza or zócalo of Mexico, and commemorated by Mexicans all over the world. 

Streets, houses, buildings and cars are decorated everywhere in the country,red,white and green are the colours. On every street corner there are vendors selling flags, balloons, sombreros, trumpets, face paint, hair spray...

Flags wave from practically every house and building.

Lighted decorations are set up in every city, the most spectacular being those of the Zócalo, main plaza, in Mexico City.  This main plaza of every town and city is the place where the great 15 De Septiembre celebrations take place. People of all ages come to this fiesta, to take part in the collective gaiety!

Food is always a very important part of these festivities. Hundreds of stands are set up several days before and offer the traditional antojitos, most aptly described as a variety of finger foods, Mexican candies, and punch: ponche, drink made out of fruits of the season: guayabas, sugarcane, raisins and apples. During September, Mes de la Patria, in any  restaurants one can find the most traditional Mexican dishes, such as Mole Poblano, Chiles en Nogada, Sopes, Chalupas…

The evening of September 15, people start gathering in the zócalo. Many people walk around dressed in typical Mexican dresses, from different periods of history. Those who don't own a typical outfit, at least would find something to wear with  the colors of the flag.  Live Mariachi Music bands play to the delight of all present. The euphoria is collective and all are prepared to shout, yell and make as much noise as possible with fake trumpets, noisemakers and whistles!

Excitement and euphoria reach a crescendo at the culminating moment when a government official arrives in the zócalo, at 11:00 P.M. to start the ceremony of El Grito de Independencia.  This ritual recreates the moment in which Cura Hidalgo, gathered his followers in Dolores, outside his little church and initiated the movement.

It is customary for our President to deliver the Grito in Mexico City’s zócalo. It is in this plaza, atop Palacio Nacional -a colonial building where the President’s offices are located-, that the original bell rung by Hidalgo is placed, and rings again every year.

 The ceremony reaches the high point when the crowd joins in proudly shouting out the names of the heroes of our Independence, to end with the exciting VIVA MÉXICO! VIVA MEXICO! VIVA MEXICO!