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September is for Mexicans everywhere
“El mes Patrio”
By: Mavi Graf - Leer
Español
I haven’t written for PV Mirror
in a long time. The reason why is because suddenly,
without really trying, my writings started to get way
too personal to share with others and I couldn’t
help but to begin a self soul cleansing therapy and
write only to myself.
But now, September is here and I
cannot pass on the opportunity of writing about the
events of this special month. To begin with, kids all
over are back in the class rooms, and that has always
been for me a very special time, both as a child and
now as a parent. It is the exciting time of new beginnings,
new goals and expectations as it is also the time to
go back to the familiar faces of our old classmates,
friends and teachers. It is such a great feeling to
see kids all over town, wearing their school uniforms
and carrying their back packs, all full of joy and excitement.
Forever, the crisp smell of brand new books and notebooks,
the vivid color of crayons and pencils have reminded
me of beautiful, innocent times that I believe children
in every village, town or city of every country of the
world should enjoy.
Two years ago, one morning, the meaning
of the month of September changed forever. The beautiful
and innocent time of going back to school was stained
by a horrible event. The morning of September 11th I
remember coming back home from taking the kids to school
and turning the TV on just on time to see how a plane
crashed into one of the Twin Towers in New York City.
For a moment I thought, what a bizarre accident, the
person piloting that plane must have had a heart attack
or something that serious, for sure nobody that is sane
will do something like that in purpose. Anyway, few
minutes later I watched in terror how a second plane
crashed into the second tower, and then I knew that
something really evil had taken place there. I, like
millions of people all over the world, were glued to
the TV screen and the more information the reporters
gave us of the, now we were certain, terrorist attack,
more were the feelings of terror, anger, anguish and
impotence. The level of sadness we reached that day
was never known before by many of us. And we asked ourselves,
why? Who did it? How can somebody justifies killing
innocent people?
Now, two year after, we live probably
(hopefully) a little bit wiser, a little bit better
in the sense of knowing our own fragility as human beings.
Talking to friends and family about September 11th,
I have learned that for most people the tragedy of the
Twin Towers left the great lesson that we should love
one another a little bit more. It left also, the determination
of enjoying life a lot more than what we were capable
of doing before the attack, as well as it left the understanding
that no matter our differences we are all part of the
same family, the human race, and that we as a family
share one home that needs to be cared for.
 But
life must go on and September is for Mexicans everywhere
“El mes Patrio” (The month of the Nation)
and we celebrate the beginning of our Independence from
Spain after almost three hundred years of occupation
and tyranny. This year we are enjoying a “Puente”
(bridge), which is a tradition that I am not sure when
or how it started but that I know everybody welcomes,
since represents a very long weekend, Most people will
have a four day break returning to either work or school
or reality, which ever is the case, on Wednesday, September
17th.
The midnight of September 15th, exactly
at the first minutes of the 16th, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla,
a catholic priest, loudly ringing the bell of his church,
called upon all the people of his small town, Dolores
Hidalgo in the central state of Guanajuato to get together
and confront the tremendous forces of Spain...…
and the rest is history. Nowadays every single town
and city in Mexico celebrates the sacrifices that so
many people made in the past, for us to enjoy our present.
Here in PV as in many other towns
in Mexico, the celebration begins on the 13th. This
is the date we remember the brave defense of Chapultepec
by a group of very young soldiers known as “Niños
Heroes” or hero children. Then on the 14th is
“Día del Charro” and the local Charro
Association is having a parade followed by “Charreadas”
(the Mexican version of a rodeo).
On the night of the 15th it is traditional
for families to go downtown to eat “antojitos”
and most kids usually will beg their parents to get
them one of the “rehiletes” (pinwheels)
or “globos” (balloons) that are sold everywhere
in the Main Plaza and all along the Malecon.  There
is always live music and don’t be too surprised
if you see some couples dance. After that, most people
will stand in front of the main balcony of City Hall
– the Mayor’s office – and at exactly
midnight, the Mayor will come out of to the balcony
and holding the Mexican flag and ringing a bell, will
repeat the same words that Hidalgo said on that first
minute of September 16th 1810. This is known as “Ceremonia
Del Grito” which literally means the “ceremony
of the shout” because it revives that very special
night in the history of our country. After “el
Grito” everybody will enjoy a spectacular display
of fireworks. And then, kids go to bed and the grown
ups go party!!
It is traditional to have our towns
decorated in the colors of our flag –green, white
and red – to put a Mexican flag outside by a window
in our homes and even to put a small one on our car.
The traditional dishes are: the two versions of Pozole,
white and red, also tostadas, tacos and tamales. Here
in PV, if you go to the main square, you will find food
stands where you can eat all these delicious dishes
and your choices on traditional beverages will be icy
cold “agua de Jamaica” (Jamaica tea), “horchata”
(rice juice with cinnamon) or agua de Tamarindo, salud!
The 16th is normally used to relax, enjoy and to recover
from the fiesta of the night before.
I
really hope you have a wonderful time in PV and enjoy
“Los días Patrios”.
Viva Mexico!!
Mavi Graf
mavi@pvmirror.com
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