Independence Day in Mexico

A date tied to the start of the independence movement

On September 16, 1810, priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla called people in Dolores, in what is now Guanajuato, to rise against Spanish colonial rule. Mexico’s National Museum of the Interventions identifies that day as the beginning of the armed movement and names Hidalgo and other insurgents among its leaders.[1]

The holiday commemorates the beginning of the struggle, rather than the date the conflict ended. The Army of the Three Guarantees entered Mexico City in 1821, bringing the armed struggle to a close, according to the National Museum of the Interventions.[1]

The Grito and September 16 ceremonies

The Grito of Independence is a central part of the observance. A Mexican government account describes a ceremony in which the president rings the bells of the National Palace, raises the national flag, and calls out the names of independence heroes as people gathered in the Zócalo respond with “¡Viva!” Similar ceremonies are also held by state and municipal authorities.[2]

Although September 16 is the official holiday, the Grito is traditionally held on the night of September 15. The National Institute of Anthropology and History says the public celebration began on the 15th in 1896, when the bell associated with Hidalgo was moved to Mexico City and placed on the National Palace balcony.[3]

On September 16, Mexico City hosts a civic-military parade associated with the anniversary. The federal government describes the parade as a recurring part of the national commemoration, while the National Institute for the Study of Mexico’s Revolutions documents a military parade in the capital in 1918.[4]

The public holiday and planning ahead

Article 74 of Mexico’s Federal Labor Law lists September 16 as a mandatory rest day. The date is named directly in the law; unlike several other holidays in the same list, it is not defined by a weekday formula. Article 75 says employers and workers determine how many employees must work that day, and workers who do are entitled to their usual rest-day pay plus double pay for the work performed.[5]

That labor-law status does not establish that every office, bank, shop, restaurant, or transport service closes. Opening hours and service timetables can differ by provider and location, so residents and visitors should check directly with the office or business they plan to use. In central Mexico City, public ceremonies draw crowds to the Zócalo; check local notices for event access and street arrangements before travelling.[2][4]