| Cry of Dolores | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Observed by | Mexico |
| Significance | Commemorates the start of theMexican War of Independence, by repeating the words of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla in the early morning of 16 September 1810 |
| Date | 16 September |
| Next time | 16 September 2026 (2026-09-16) |
| Frequency | Annual |
TheCry of Dolores[n 1] (Spanish:Grito de Dolores) occurred inDolores, Mexico, on 16 September 1810, whenRoman Catholic priestMiguel Hidalgo y Costilla rang hischurch bell and gave thecall to arms that triggered theMexican War of Independence. The Cry of Dolores is most commonly known by the locals asEl Grito de Independencia (TheIndependence Cry).
Every year on theeve of Independence Day, thepresident of Mexico re-enacts the cry from the balcony of theNational Palace inMexico City while ringing the same bell Hidalgo used in 1810. During the patriotic speech, the president calls out the names of the fallen heroes who died during the War of Independence and ends the speech by shouting"¡Viva México!" three times, followed by theMexican National Anthem.
In the 1810s, what would become Mexico was stillNew Spain, part of the Spanish crown. FollowingNapoleon's overthrow of the SpanishBourbon monarchy in 1808, Spain's American possessions rose in rebellion, refusing to accept Napoleon's brother,Joseph Bonaparte, as king. In New Spain, the criollo leadership attempted to set a course of autonomy in support of the legitimate heir to the throne,Ferdinand VII, but the peninsular elite, fearing the loss of the colony, carried out a coup, also in the name of Ferdinand. Almost immediately, groups ofcreoles formed various plots around the viceroyalty, including inQuerétaro, of which Father Hidalgo became a part. When the plot was discovered in early September 1810, some plotters decided to proceed with the uprising.[1] Around 2:30 am on 16 September 1810, Hidalgo ordered the church bells to be rung and gathered his congregation. Flanked byIgnacio Allende andJuan Aldama, he addressed the people in front of his church, urging them to revolt. His speech became known as the "Cry of Dolores".[2]
The liberated country adopted Mexico as its official name. Mexico's independence from Spain took adecade of war. Independence was achieved by theDeclaration of Independence of the Mexican Empire 11 years and 12 days later, on 28 September 1821. However, Hidalgo is credited as being the "father of his country".[3]
Scholars have not been able to reach a consensus on the exact words Miguel Hidalgo said at the time. Michael Meyer has noted:
The exact words of this most famous of all Mexican speeches are not known, or, rather, they are reproduced in almost as many variations as there are historians to reproduce them.[4]
Meyer also argues that:
...the essential spirit of the message is... "My children: a new dispensation comes to us today. Will you receive it? Will you free yourselves? Will you recover the lands stolen three hundred years ago from your forefathers by the hated Spaniards? We must act at once... Will you defend your religion and your rights as true patriots? Long live Our Lady of Guadalupe! Death to bad government! Death to the Gachupines!"[4]
In contrast, William F. Cloud divides the sentiments above between Hidalgo and the crowd:
[Hidalgo] told them that the time for action on their part had now come. When he asked, "Will you be slaves of Napoleon, or will you as patriots defend your religion, your hearths, and your rights?" there was a unanimous cry, "We will defend to the utmost! Long live religion; long live our most holy mother of Guadalupe! Long live America! Death to bad government, and death to the Gachupines!"[5]
Many believe that Hidalgo's Grito condemned the notion of monarchy and criticized the current social order in detail. However, his opposition targeted Spain and its viceroy in Mexico: that is, not against the monarchy in general but against "bad government". The Grito also emphasized loyalty to the Catholic religion, a sentiment with which both Mexican-bornCriollos andPeninsulares (native Spaniards) could sympathize. However, the strong anti-Spanish cry of "Death to Gachupines" (Gachupines being a slur given to Peninsulares) would have shocked Mexico's elites.[6]
The day of 16 September was first celebrated in 1812 inHuichapan,Hidalgo.[7] It was given the status of a national holiday in theConstitution of Apatzingán, ratified by the conventions of 1822 and 1824, and first celebrated nationally in 1825.[8]
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