Celebration this weekend of Mexico's Independence

MATTAWA - Mexican and Hispanic-American residents of this community will commemorate Mexico's declaration of independence from Spanish rule more than 200 years ago this Sunday, Sept. 16.

The celebration will include a parade through Government Way and a Spanish-language Mass at Our Lady of the Desert Catholic Church. The parade will kick off at 11 a.m. The Mass will start at noon.

The day will start at 9 a.m. with an English-language Mass at the same church. From 2 p.m. to about 9 p.m. there will be a Mexican fiesta on the grounds of the church, which is located at 301 E. 8th St.

The fiesta will include the coronation of the Independence Queen from among several candidates. There will be folkloric dancing and music by bandas and mariachis.

And, of course, there will be plenty of Mexican cuisine, from tacos to tostadas to complete meals. All proceeds from the sale of food will go to the support of the church.

That this celebration is church-centered is fitting.

The long struggle for independence, encouraged by the American Revolution of 1776 against England, was launched by Father Miguel Hidalgo and Costilla's Grito de Dolores (Shout of Independence in the town of Dolores) on Sept. 16, 1810.

Padre Hidalgo made the Grito at 6 a.m. at his church among his gathered congregation. Today it's customary for someone to make the same Grito wherever Mexican independence is celebrated.

Hidalgo headed up a rebel army that was untrained and ill-equipped.

His capture, execution and mutilation within a year slowed the war of independence and, at the same time, spurred it on.

It took 11 years for Mexico to throw off Spain's chains of colonization. But its success led to the freeing of the entirety of the Americas from European dominance.