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The night of the mexicans
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| by Ana Luz Velázquez
- September 15, 2002 |
September begins and automatically
all the patriotic symbols appear all around. The flag
vendors are everywhere and the flags are placed in car
windows, on the bosses' desks, in shop windows... Patriotic
families decorate the facades and balconies of their
homes with the colors of the flag, as are the streets
downtown - to remind us that we are Mexican.
Restaurants offer special September
menus, typical Mexican dishes or dishes with a Mexican
"touch", but what we Mexicans are really waiting
for is the famous street festival on the night of September
15th. Although civic festivities start on the 13th with
the Day of the Niños Héroes - who were
not really children, considering that the youngest was
13 and the oldest was already a lieutenant - but anyways,
history tells us that they were burned alive while defending
the Military College against the American Army during
the term of one of Mexico's worst presidents ever, Antonio
Lopez de Santa Ana.
Then comes the 15th and thousands
of people gather in the main squares of all the cities
in Mexico for the Grito de Independencia (the Cry for
Independance) that emulates the one issued by Father
Hidalgo in the town of Dolores. The President of México
and State Governors - here in Puerto Vallarta, it is
the mayor's duty - put themselves in the place of Father
Hidalgo and at 11 p.m. sharp, the first cry is heard...
Viva Méxicoooooo!!!! - cries
the President.
Viva!!!!! - answer the people.
Viva los héroes que nos dieron patria y libertad!!!
(Long live the heroes who gave us our nation and our
freedom!) - cries the President.
Vivaaaaa!!! - we answer.
And while the President shouts himself
hoarse, down below, under the big clock, the fun and
the mayhem have already started a while ago. All the
pushing, shoving and crushing force the ladies to protect
their bodies' integrity both front and back... considering
all the grabbing that goes on. Desperate children start
screaming, lovers kiss and hug, some make fun of the
President's (Mayor's in our case) off key yelling, others
try to talk among themselves, and all the while the
President continues to shout, calling out the names
of all the heroes, until he finally rings the bell and
the fireworks begin. (Everyone pays attention to that!)
Afterwards, the multitudes line up
to enjoy the mole, the pozole, the tacos, the birria
and the sopes, and the bananas smothered in jam. There
are also the fried donuts, the aguas frescas besides
all the other snacks...
The more mischievous ones break eggs
filled with confetti on the heads of others, distracted
by the hustle and bustle. Some can't take it any more
and fights break out. Others carry their little bottle
of Tequila or beer hidden in their clothes, to end the
night asleep in the arms of Bacchus.
It is all part of the fun. This fiesta night is Mexico's
night, the night of the Mexicans. It is our night for...
Freeeeeedom!!!
analuz@pvmirror.com
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