2001

Pictures from Mexican Indpendence Day activities 2001

Mexican Independence Day is commemorated every year on the 16th of September. This was the date in 1810 on which parish priest Father Miguel Hidalgo rang the church bell and issued the "Grito de Dolores" (or "Grito de Independencia"), the first call for the independence of Mexico from Spain. He advocated the abolition of tribute paid by indigenous tribes, the return of all land taken by the Spaniards from the indigenous tribes, and the expulsion of all Spaniards. Thousands of people joined his cause and formed a people's army, advancing on Guanajuato, Guadalajara, and Mexico City. Although Hidalgo was captured and executed by the Spanish Army in 1811, his calls for a social revolution were then taken up by Father Jose Maria Morelos, who advocated independence for Mexico, the abolition of slavery, codification of the equality of all people, and agrarian reform. Morelos was executed in 1815. Mexico achieved its independence from Spain in 1821, under the conservative rule of Agustin de Iturbide. These photos were taken at the home of host-mother Chuchis Lucero de Hernandez, on September 15, 2001.

Host Mother Diana Hernandez with her daughter in traditional dress, & Dani, daughter of host mother Daniela Azpeita de Hernandez (center)	Daughters of host families performing traditional regional Mexican dances.	Daughters of host families performing traditional regional Mexican dances.
Jesse Gritton (Earlham), Katy McKee (Wooster), Sally Abrahamson (Oberlin), Natalie Sandoval (Earlham), Paulina (host-sister), Jacob Blickenov (Earlham).	Natalie, Sally, and Denise Lord (Kalamazoo), in traditional dress.