When I learned that there would be a celebration for the Mexican National Day in Paris I contacted the organizer Nicholas Jimenez from the Association Paris-Mexico. He told me that I would be welcome to attend. It was at the Equinoxe a special hall that is huge 1800 square meters and is equipped for parties.
As is the custom each year the Association Paris-Mexican Assn. celebrates the event on September 15. This year it began at 8 p.m. Tickets were sold for 15 Euros in advance and 18 Euros at the door. I arrived shortly before 10 p.m. and planned to leave around 11.15 p;m; after the ambassador’s speech. Guests were arriving when I came. I was surprised to learn that the party would go on until 4 a.m. The crowd consisted of students and Mexican and French adults. All were there to party and party we did.
The party featured two musical groups from Mexico “Real Cocula” from the city of Cocula, the home of the Mariachis and” Alma Surena” from the city of Cuernavaca and a group Franco/Mexican “Los Gringos. “
The famous DJ from Mexico Laurent Hector was spinning tunes.
When I arrived people were eating plates of tacos with delicious sauces, packages of tortilla and also helados (ice cream) chocolate, vanilla with chantilly sold by the Mexican restaurant Itacate in Paris and drinking beer, margaritas and other alcoholic beverages. There were also fajitas and tamales sold by Zicatela a bistro and tea room in Paris
People were enjoying the celebration – eating, dancing and having fun.
At 11.00 p.m. El Grito de Dolores was shouted by the ambassador of Mexico to France, Miguel Hidalgo. This speech is said every year by the President of Mexico on September 15 at 11 p.m. in front of the Zocalo in Mexico City.
Originally the celebration was on September 16 the date when a priest Miguel Hidalgo said the El Grito de Delores the cry for Independence on September 16, 1810, in the city of Dolores in the early morning hours; Four days later the battle of Guanajuato started and it was on September 27, 1821, that Mexico was free from Spain; It seems like a long war.
El Grito was said on September 16 up to 1910 when President Porfirio Diaz changed the date to September 15 to be celebrated on his birthday.
No one knows the original version but a standard version was presented in 2010 which honored the heroes of Mexico, the National Independence, and Bicentennial of Independence.
The last words are repeated three times; “Viva Mexico”! (“Long Live Mexico;”)
Source: El Grito de Dolores
by Ric Hajovsky – www.everythingcozumel.com
The crowd really yelled El Grito de Dolores!
I started listening and dancing to the Mariachis and did not leave until 12.15 a.m. because I was enjoying the music and dancing with the Mexicans and French. Luckily I caught the last metro to Montmartre where I took a night bus.
What a wonderful celebration! Viva Mexico!
Jane Rosenstein is a U.S. citizen living in Paris, France. She is a professional translator/interpreter. She is the owner of The International Connection which does international marketing consultation including sales of wine, interpretation, and translation.
She enjoys the cultural life that living in Paris offers and has talents in organizing events. She speaks English, French, and Spanish. She has a B.S. degree in mathematics from the University of Pittsburgh and an M.B.A. degree from Georgia State University in Atlanta, GA.
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