Though I’m not currently in Zihuatanejo, I see via the newspapers that the celebrations of Mexico’s bicentenary of Independence have begun with the opening of a fabulous exhibition of photos of Zihuatanejo and its inhabitants and visitors, old and new, from the collection by Profesor Lázaro Ramírez Cervantes.
These photographs are on display at Zihuatanejo’s City Hall (Ayuntamiento) at Plaza del Sol. The exposition leads into two weeks of celebratory activities that will culminate on September 16th withl the Independence day parade. El Grito, or the Cry of Independence, will take place at City Hall at 11 p.m. on the eve of Independence, September 15th.
Every year the President of Mexico repeats the cry of independence that was made by Father Miguel Hidalgo in Dolores, Guanajuato, in the early morning hours of September 16th, 1810, and all over Mexico, the mayors of all the cities and towns do the same on the eve of the original event. El Grito itself is generally followed by a great display of fireworks, often featuring what are known as Castillos, elaborate structures in which ingeniously arranged fireworks can progressively depict the faces of the heroes of Independence and phrases such as Viva México! Viva Hidalgo! and Viva la Revolución!
This year also marks the Centenary of the Mexican Revolution of 1910, and there are sure to be many other special events above and beyond the regular yearly parade and celebrations when that date rolls around on November 20th.
