When Is Mexico's Independence Day?

Mexico's Independence Day is celebrated on September 16.

Historical Significance

It commemorates the Grito de Dolores ("Cry of Dolores") on September 16, 1810, when the parish priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla rang his church bell in the town of Dolores and called for rebellion against Spanish colonial rule.

Key Facts

• Not Cinco de Mayo: May 5 marks the 1862 Battle of Puebla vs. France—often confused abroad.
• War duration: 1810–1821 (11 years).
• Celebration: Begins the night of Sept 15 with the President's reenactment of the Grito from the National Palace balcony. Sept 16 is a national holiday with parades, fireworks, music, and traditional foods (pozole, chiles en nogada).