A Mariachi group. Mariachi is a musical expression that dates back to at least 18th century in Western Mexico and inscribed in the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2011. *Photo from Wikipedia
September 16 is The Cry of Dolores, celebrates the declaration of independence of Mexico from Spain in 1810.
Roman Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla rang the bell of his church and gave the pronunciamiento (call to arms) that triggered the Mexican War of Independence. This happened in the state of Guanajuato within the small town of Dolores (now Dolores Hidalgo).
From 1521, the Spanish conquest of the Aztec empire incorporated the region into the Spanish Empire, with New Spain its colonial era name and Mexico City the center of colonial rule. It was built on the ruins of the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlan and became the capital of New Spain.
During the colonial era, Mexico’s long-established Mesoamerican civilizations mixed with European culture. The country is both the most populous Spanish-speaking country in the world and home to the largest number of Native American language speakers in North America. For three centuries, Mexico was part of the Spanish Empire, whose legacy is a country with a Spanish-speaking, Catholic and largely Western culture.
After a protracted struggle (1810-21) for independence, New Spain became the sovereign nation of Mexico.
Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a federal republic in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and to the east by the Gulf of Mexico.
In commemoration of the day, let us introduce you to people from Mexico we met in Japan.
*Click a photo below to see their stories!
“If I had a previous life, I think I was a Japanese in it.” – Evelyn Martinez, Spanish/English instructor
*Reference: Wikipedia
