Viva Mexico!

September 16th, Independence Day in Mexico, brings parties, fairs, and national pride. The night before, the president goes to the city center and rallies the people into the cry for independence (el Grito), in remembrance of the priest who gave the first Grito to call the people to fight for their independence. How exciting it is to be in a crowd of people shouting "Viva Mexico!"

But, what did Independence mean this year in Mexico?

Due to the people camped out in the center of Mexico City in protest of the elections, President Fox's advisers asked Fox not to endanger himself by giving the Grito there, but rather in another place. He, however, wanted to uphold this long tradition. In Oaxaca, there were rumors that the national government was going to send troops that night to finally intervene in the teacher's strike. And of course, the protestors in Oaxaca refused to let the governor give the Grito in Oaxaca.

So, what would happen this night?

It turns out that, in Mexico City, the President was able to negotiate with the protestors. If he would give the Grito elsewhere, they would stop camping out in the city center. So, things seem to have worked out well there. In Oaxaca, people kind of waited out the night in anticipation of what might happen. But, nothing did - the troops never came and the Independence Celebration ended up being a small event. So, on a political level, that is a short summary of what Independence Day was like in Mexico this year.

People were still able to celebrate this occasion, just a little less than usual. I was enjoying myself in celebration at the Covenant church in Puebla (Central Mexico). Here's a picture of the festive "gringas" present at this Mexican holiday :-)

Jo Ellen (Oaxaca Missionary), Kris and daughter Sarah (visiting from the States), Vicky (Puebla Missionary), and me :-)

This is a picture of some of the women in the church performing a traditional dance.