Celebration of Mexican political anniversaries in 2010
Encyclopedia
In 2010, Mexico celebrated both the 200th anniversary of its Independence
and 100th anniversary of its Revolution
. The entire year was proclaimed by President Felipe Calderón
as "Año de la Patria", or "Year of the Nation." 16 September 1810 is the day of the "Grito de Dolores
" or Miguel Hidalgo's call to take up arms against Spanish colonial government. The start of the Mexican Revolution is celebrated as being 20 November 1910, when Francisco "Pancho" Villa and Pascual Orozco
led the first insurrectionist attack. Events and other promotions of these celebrations were designed to link of Mexico's identity and historic continuity. During a speech at the inauguration of the Casa de Allende (Allende House) Historic Museum, Felipe Calderón called upon Mexico to use the upcoming anniversaries to reflect on where the country has been and to think about what kind of Mexico descendants will inherit in the future. He said the vision of the insurgents of the War of Independence was forward, not backward, so every celebration of these past events must consider the future as well.
, Guanajuato
at around 6 am on September 16, 1810 to his parish to take up arms against the Spanish colonial government. Each year, this re-enactment occurs not only on the main square (Zócalo
) of the capital, Mexico City, but also on every main plaza in almost all communities in the country.
The date of 20 November is used to mark the start of the Mexican Revolution, or the uprising and civil war that took place from 1910 to 1920. Presidential contender Francisco I. Madero chose the date in his Plan of San Luis Potosí
to begin an uprising against President Porfirio Díaz
who had through Madero in jail rather than accept his victory in the elections of 1910. Although violence against the Díaz regime had already broken out in the name of this Plan, the date is still considered official.
, after Congress
declared that the year 2010 should be dedicated equally to both anniversaries. Eventually, the committee came under the direction of Felipe Calderón
. Calderón officially installed the Organizing Committee of the Commemoration of the Bicentennial of the Start of the Movement of National Independence and Centennial of the Start of the Revolution in March 2007. In 2007, at the 97th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution, Calderón presented the Base Program of the Commemoration of the Bicentennial of the Start of Independence and the Centennial of the Start of the Mexican Revolution. Most preparations revolved around construction and reconstruction projects as well as planning for events related to 2010. Many of these commemorations were planned for venues outside of Mexico such as in Mexico's 147 diplomatic missions in the world. Mexico is also involved with the Grupo Bicentenario de Latinoamérica (Latin American Bicentennial Group). Programs and activities were coordinated among a number of countries for between 2009 and 2011 as many Latin American countries celebrate their bicentennials. This nations include countries such as Argentina
, Bolivia
, Chile
, Colombia
, Ecuador
, El Salvador
, Paraguay
and Venezuela
coordinating events such as debates, publications, celebrations and festivals. In various cities in Spain, the city sponsored an exposition called "Ciudad de México, Ciudad solidaria, Capital de asilos" (Mexico City: Capital of Solidarity, Capital of asylum), consisting mostly of Instamatic photographs. It looked back on the country's role as a refuge for political refugees from fascists regimes of World War II as well as from other Latin American countries. In addition to preparations by the federal government, most state governments began similar preparations as well, especially the state of Guanajuato, which is the site of Dolores Hidalgo and El Grito.
On 6 September 2009, Felipe Calderón lit the "Fuego Bicentenario" or Bicentennial Fire in front of the National Palace. This flame traveled all around Mexico over the next twelve months, ending on the date of the Bicentennial of Independence. Media events to promote the upcoming celebrations as well as to retell the stories of both historical events appeared on Mexican television. One example of this was "Expedición 1808, travesía por los bicentenarios de Iberoamérica" (Expedition 1808: a journey through the Bicentennials of Latin America) In Mexico State, six cities were declared "Bicentennial Cities", and slated for improvements in their industrial zones, roadways, parks and public space. In Guerrero, the National Institute of Anthropology and History
is working to declare the entire old downtown of Chilpancingo as a historic site, due to the multiple events of both the War of Independence and the Revolution that occurred there.
In the Zocalo
(main square) in Mexico City
a large digital clock counted down to the 15 September 2010 and 20 November 2010 dates. Similar countdown clocks were located in the cities of Cuernavaca
, Tlaxcala
, Chilpancingo
, Tepic
, Nayarit
. and all the other capital cities of the 31 states.
is in charge of allocating resources to signal these roads and provide tourist information both on their website and on the roads themselves. These routes connect historical sites like the Casa del Marques in the historic center of Mexico City, the San Diego Fort Museum in Acapulco
, the Museum of the Viceroyalty, the National Museum of Anthropology, the National History Museum
, the Casa de Allende Museum, the Casa Morelos Museum, the Alhóndiga de Granaditas
and the Museum of the Casa of Padre Hidalgo.
These roads are subdivided by the specific event they trace. The Independence Road, which includes the Freedom Route, follows the path of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla from Dolores Hidalgo
, Guanajuato
, to the state of Chihuahua, passing through a number of other states such as Querétaro
and Michoacán
. This road traces the first campaigns of the War of Independence to the site of Hidalgo's execution. The Sentiments of the Nation Route, named after the eponymous document by José María Morelos y Pavón, follows his campaigns through the states of Michoacán, Guerrero
, Oaxaca
, Morelos
, Mexico State, Puebla
, Veracruz
and Chiapas
. The Route of the Three Guarantees maps out the campaigns fought by Agustín de Iturbide
, who brought the War for Independence to a close in 1821. The runs from Iguala
, Guerrero, to Mexico City.
Routes following the major events of the Mexican Revolution include the Democracy Route, mostly outlining the road taken by Francisco I. Madero
from Ciudad Juárez
to Mexico City after being elected president in 1911. The route starts in Parras, Coahuila, his hometown, and passes through the cities of San Luis Potosí
, Ciudad Juárez, Piedras Negras
, Torreón
, Zacatecas
, Aguascalientes
and León
. The Zapatista Route traces the operations of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation
through the states of Morelos, Puebla and Mexico State. The Constitutionalist Revolution Route is the conjunction of the routes of Venustiano Carranza
, Álvaro Obregón
, Francisco Villa and Pablo González Garza
, four other key players of the Revolution. These routes wander through just about all of the northern and central states.
, the new Mexican Children's Library, a Virtual Museum, the movement of the General Archive of the Nation
to a new building. The Turkish
government is restoring a clock given to Mexico for its Centennial celebrations by the Ottoman Empire
.
As of August 2009, most of the preparations consisted of restoring historical buildings and sites related to the Bicentennial or the Centennial. Museums in Guanajuato state such as the Casa de Allende Museum, the Museum of Dolores Hidalgo
, and the Alhóndiga de Granaditas have been remodeled and/or inaugurated at a cost of seven million pesos. In Querétaro, the 688925 m² (170 acre) The new "Bicentennial Park" was inaugurated in the north of the capital. In Mexico State, six cities were declared "Bicentennial Cities", and slated for improvements in their industrial zones, roadways, parks and public space. In Guerrero, the National Institute of Anthropology and History
is working to declare the entire old downtown of Chilpancingo as a historic site, due to the multiple events of both the War of Independence and the Revolution that occurred there. The state of Nuevo León
had 156 projects related to the two anniversaries and the state of Chihuahua will be celebrating the 300th anniversary of its capital city along with the other two.
In the restoration proyects, the Casa Allende Museum was the first museumm to be restored in the Bicentennial celebration. It took two years and seven million pesos. Its doors closed on October 2007 and started its restoration. This museum, reopened its doors and was reinagurated by the Mexican president Felipe Calderón in April 2009. The museum has now a new water pipe sistem and a draining sistem, some electric improvements, a new security sistem and a new illumination for the whole museum. [9]
Another important restoration project is found in the Alondiga de Granaditas which is a building where the first encounter took place in the independence. This place has been restored and it took 5.7 millions of pesos from Mexicos Anthropology Institute. Is a very simbolic place and it has been improved in many ways. Drain pipes, illumination, security cameras and bathrooms are few of the many improvements made to this museum. It has many galleries and writings from the national heroes.[10]
There has been also created a huge infrastructure project to celebrate the Mexican bicentennial. It is called "Ruta 2010", and it is about six new routes. These routes are for Mexicans to understand the meaning and importance of the historical zones in past years. They are also made for Mexicans to enjoy faster and more efficient access to new places. Three of these routes follow the independence movement took place in 1810 that and the other three follow the revolutionary movement of 1910.
This project is a cooperation of many Departments of State. The Transportation and Communication department will destine a big part of its resources to install any necessary sign on the correct roadways. The Tourism Department will cooperate with the correct information for Mexicans and Tourists to be informed. This information will announce all the new strategic access points in the new roadways. The "Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia" (INAH) will also reinforce its facilities in those places where museums, sites and monuments are located. This is to have a stronger Presence on those places that are historically more significant.
Many facts were taken into consideration in order to create these routes. Previously, there was not enough access to these historical zones, since many of them are very remote. There was not access through free roads, not even through "private roads" in which Mexicans pay a fee to use them. Therefore, Government decided to set out these routes, so that Mexicans can have easier and faster access and visit the most important historical places in the country.
There is also a project called "Mexico es mi Museo", it is an important part of the infrastructure project. This project is about the installation of special signs called "Mexico es mi Museo" (Mexico is my museum). These signs will be located at the most important historical places. The objective of this is to invite Mexicans and tourists to visit museums and get to know better the place in which they are located. This is also for them to understand the role that the place played during the independence and revolutionary movements.
There is historical and geographical information available on the official Mexican Bicentennial website. There is also available information for Communication routes and touristic places. People can also call a free number in order to hear more information about the infrastructure project in just a couple minutes. Since many of the historical places had a different name in the past, there are guides with the past names and the current names of these places for better reference. There are also maps with the location of these places.
Other Projects
PARQUE BICENTENARIO'
The Bicentennial park is one of the projects presented by the president Felipe Calderón: an ecological work inspired because of the Bicentennial of Mexico. The project is in the Stage of construction. The park will be integrated by Interactive museums, Audiences outdoors, sports fields, bicycling paths, children's games, areas for persons of the third age, pedestrian zones, besides many green areas. Is important to notice that this Project is to foment the cultural health in Mexicans, and particularly of the inhabitants of Azcapotzalco, Michael Hidalgo and part of the municipalities conurbados of the State of Mexico, the works are realized by the highest conditions of sanitary and environmental safety. The government has invested over two billion pesos. The president declared that this is an important project for the Mexican people because it is an environmental, urban and social park.
CORREDOR MADERO
The chief of government of the Federal District, Marcelo Ebrard, was one of the persons presented in the inauguration of the pedestrian corridor in the street of Francisco I, located in the Center Históric. The chief of government of the Federal District describe those corridor as one of the most important of the city, this was a perfect example of how important is to recover public spaces. The secretary of Urban Development and Housing, Philip Leal, said that the project of peatonalización had an investment of almost 30 million. In they installed 130 new lights, 12 bankings, three modules of newspaper and 120 bolardos.
BICENTENNIAL ARC
Project presented by 24 young Mexican architects. Cesar Perez Becerril was the head of the Project. Monument that will be raised on Walk of the Reform, at a height of the gratings of The Lions, of Chapultepec's Forest. This monument represents every fight and difficulty for which Mexico has happened. But always looking this way above at our dreams as Mexicans. Not forgetting our past but if seeing to the future.
is producing a historical "television-novel" to commemorate the Bicentennial, which will be titled "Senda de gloria" or "Path of Glory." It is produced with the cooperation of the Office of the President of Mexico
. More academically, one of the major projects is the publication of a fourteen-volume work discussion how Mexico has arrived at the 21st century, written by more than 100 researchers from the El Colegio de México
. One of the volumes is a Dictionary of the Spanish of Mexico, another is an analysis of Mexico's condition in the 21st century and a number are devoted to the history of each of the states and the economy of the country.
Another production of Televisa group is the television-novel called "Gritos de muerte y libertad" based in the Mexican history with the objective of commemorating . This production was supported by recognized historians like Héctor Aguilar Camín, Javier García Diego, Enrique Flores Cano and Rafael Rojas. The production by thirteen chapters with the collaboration of actors like Alejandro Tommasi and Diego Luna. It was premiered on August 30 and ended on September 16 and it was well received by critics, counting with a good budget and showing different parts of the country like Texcoco, Dolores Hidalgo and Guanajuato.
One of the biggest projects are the "Bicentennial Olympics". It consists in a series of sporting events, swimming,table tennis and basketball . The inauguration was in Reforma Avenue in Mexico City . Michael Phelps was invited to a race in the inauguration of this Olympics, as well as many other famous and important athletes.
As part of the commemorations of the Bicentennial of Independence and the Mexican Revolution, the Mexican Navy has a traveling exhibition of these topics.
The exhibition began on January 7 in the city of Querétaro where through screens are various topics such as stages of the movement of 1810, which shows the various campaigns of the priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla and many other characters involved in this movement.
This project consists on learning Mexican history. In the most important places in the country, through a cell phone message that will explain each of the places and their historical meaning.
The Angel of the Independence hosted a parade of popular young musicians like Aleks Syntek, Paulina Rubio, Ely Guerra and Natalia Lafourcade.
Thousands of persons took advantage of the opportunity of seeing closely to his idols and of step to enjoy the native holidays.
The director of the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas, Alondra de la Parra, was the one that began to the concert in The Angel on the occasion of the Bicentenary and Centenary of the Revolution. Lo Blondo and Ely Guerra were the first ones invited in rising to the scene and parting with the rock that it characterizes them they gave voice to the topic " Only once ". Within a few minutes, Natalia Lafourcade joined the duet and already as soloist I continue the recital with the Jose Alfredo Jiménez's classic one " I dawned again ".
The change of pace came when the DJ Alyosa Barreiro, offered a set of electronic music and opened to Aleks Syntek, not without before, the drivers Julio Bracho and Vanessa Bauche invited to the hearing to mention them the mother the assistants in the events carried out in the "Zocalo" and in the statue of "El Caballito".
The celebrations of the two hundred anniversary of the National Independence at the "Zocalo" began at 5 PM with the "Ritual del Fuego" ceremony in which around 40 grandfathers of different regions of the country participated.
After the ritual tree "mariachi" groups and a theater group arrived and performed typical songs of the Mexican culture.
Two different shows were presented after this. (Arbol de la Vida and Vuela Mexico)
The "Arbol de la Vida" show had its own stage and through different figures of the independence heroes they represented different aspects and moments of Mexico's history.
"Vuela Mexico" was an acrobatic number were the dancers formed the word Mexico using their bodies.
At 11:00 PM, like all the years, the celebration was interrupted and the president, Felipe Calderón Hinojosa, appeared and received from the hands of a military escort the flag of Mexico and then walked to the balcony where he rang the liberty bell, remembered and yelled all the independence heroe's names and then rang the bell again.
At 11:05 the national anthem was played and all the people gathered sang along. Everything was followed by the bicentennial firework show that amazed all the people.
At 11:30 Armando Manzanero appeared with the Yucalpeten Orchestra to perform his hits and closed all the celebrations at the Zocalo.
Miguel Hidalgo and Benito Juarez sectors are two of the main celebration points in Mexico City. In Benito Juarez sector, activities start with a official ceremony to Mexico's national flag. At night the sector's governor made the traditional "grito de independencia" to recall the memory of Mexican independence heroes. The events at this sector of the city consisted of coordinated civic events, which had a military ceremony style. In Miguel Hidalgo sector, there was a vast set of cultural performances: the Mexican dance company "Itlatiuh", then the "Sonora Dinamita" and the "Zona Rica", both popular music bands. The event will have the assistance of the orchestas and folklorikal ballets. Like in every traditional celebration there were mariachis, which come right before the "grito". The governor of this sector algos gives the "grito de independencia". The events at Miguel Hidalgo have the style of popular cultural events, so they differ a little from the ones in Benito Juarez.
The military parade of the Mexican independence bicentennial started at 11:00 o clock. The soldiers greeted and honored president Felipe Calderón Hinojosa, their supreme commander.
After the parade President Calderón went to the Plaza de la constitución accompanied by representatives of the congress and the Federal Court to listen the verse named "El canto a la bandera".
Right after the verse five aircraft flew across Mexico city and president Calderón made his way to the central balcony of the Mexican national palace. His wife Margarita Zavala and his children María, Luis Felipe and Juan Pablo were already waiting for him at the palace. Soon after his arrival the military abandoned The Plaza de la Constitución and made their way to the initial starting point of the parade.
For the celebration of Mexican Bicentennial independence anniversary,17 different friend countries of Mexico participated in the military parade celebrated on September 16, 2010.
In the presence of Felipe Calderón Hinojosa, president of Mexico, the military parade began with the free fall of 27 paratroopers,12 from the Navy and 15 from the army. Immediately after the contingency that conforms the parade column marched across "Plaza de la constitución". Each of the groups was led by women. The parade had the participation of 18 thousand 116 hundredth effectives of the Mexican army, Navy and the Federal Public Security Secretary.
Being an special occasion military delegations from Germany, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, China, Colombia, El Salvador, Spain, United States, France, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Russia, Peru and Venezuela also participated in the parade.
A total of 176 flags, among them the first two of the Mexican army that where held by Spain government traveled the circuit that goes from "Plaza de la constitución" to the Angel de la Independencia. 242 vehicles and 326 horses marched in front of National palace balcony.121 airplanes from Mexican Air Force (FAM) realized flybys. 680 elements from the motorized group, 92 vehicles of motorized cavalry, 207 effectives and 59 vehicles of the armored group as well as 499 elements and 63 artillery vehicles also participated in the parade. 219 women,240 elements from Mexican Air Force, 1556 combat troop elements,2867 students and seven vehicles of military traveled the path by foot.
From the Mexican Navy's 5 thousandth 2 hundredth elements participated in the parade and 636 from the Public Security Secretary. 326 elements of the cavalry división and 100 "charros" traveled the circuit to close the parade.
took place all over the country on September the 15th and 16th of 2010. Celebrations were different in every state, depending on each one's traditions and culture. Northern states, such as Sonora
and Chihuahua, had similar celebrations, as well as Baja California Sur
(BCS) and Baja California Norte (BCN). All of the local governments of those states made public works like remodeling historic areas and organizing military parades. For example, in Sonora for the parade they reconstructed the "Bicentenario Plaza" to make the principal ceremony there. Although all northern states had similar celebrations, each one gave a traditional local touch to the Bicentennial events.
For the northern states near the Distrito Federal
, celebrations were a bit different from other parts of the country, but as important as the main festivity in the capital. In Morelia
, Michoacán
, after the attack in 2008 of an offender group at the ceremony of "el Grito de Independencia", the government established severer security measures this year. An example of this was the use of metal detectors and the presence of the Mexican Army
. In Querétaro
, the traditional ceremony was performed without conflicts. Some majors began the ceremonies earlier and also took out the prohibition of alcohol. In Dolores Hidalgo
, Guanajuato
, which was the Cradle of Independence, the president Felipe Calderón
re-acted the traditional "Grito" by saying the original dialogue that Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla proclaimed two hundred years ago. Finally, Coahuila
and Colima
organized the traditional ceremony with music, dances, fireworks and parties in all the municipalities throughout these five states.
Many states of the northwestern area celebrated Bicentennial festivities by organizing commemorative parades. In places like Aguascalientes
, Durango
, Jalisco
, and Nayarit
the members of the Army attended the celebrations, but the participation of schools and security institutions characterized the parades. In Aguascalientes, the civic-military parade was made up by 2,040 elements from different schools, as well as 370 members of the Secretaría de Seguridad Pública y Tránsito. In Durango, there were more than 1,500 students from secondary, high school and professional levels, along with 68 professors. In the case of Jalisco, approximately 3,600 people participated, including soldiers, policemen, some members of the Secretaría de Seguridad Pública, etc. The Governor of Nayarit, Ney González, emphasized that it was because of children, youths and schools that the parade in the state succeeded.
In other northern states, such as Nuevo León
, Tamaulipas
, Coahuila
, San Luis Potosí
and Zacatecas
, the respective governors started the Bicentennial celebrations with the traditional civic ceremony. First, they took possession of the patriotic symbol (flag) and then proceeded to give "el Grito de Independencia". In these events, the governors mentioned the names of some characters who participated in the War of Independence by saying: "Mexicanos, vivan los héroes que nos dieron patria; Viva Hidalgo; Viva Morelos; Viva Allende; Viva la Independencia; Viva México; Viva México; Viva México". Later, the celebrations were complemented with fireworks, which lasted from 30 to 45 minutes in most of the federal entities. Finally, the festivity concluded with the inauguration of different monuments, public buildings (hospitals), artistic expositions, and with the military march past.
, Veracruz
, Guerrero
, Oaxaca
, Chiapas
, Campeche
, Quintana Roo
, and Yucatán
. In general those states celebrated, like the rest of the country, with the traditional "Grito"-the 15th- and a military parade-the 16th of September-with a few distinguished traditions of each state; moreover, the celebrations distinguished by the presence of some political, and weather problems that limited the original plans.
In the state of Oaxaca
, the "Grito" was given at 10:56 pm, in the Zocalo of the city. After the Mexican National Anthem was interpreted, the lights of fireworks illuminate the Cathedral. September 16 began with the hoisting of flag, on the "Alameda de Leon". The civic-military parade began at 10 am starting from the park "El Llano" and ending in "Plaza del Zocalo". When the parade finished, the Mexican national anthem was sung by the voices of the thousands of people that attended to the Zocalo of the city.
In Chiapas
the Bicentennial Celebration was very similar to Oaxaca. The "grito" was given in the night of September 15 and the military parade the following day. Moreover Chiapas began it celebration before, because they also celebrate the fact that Chiapas had become an official state of the country at September 14 of 1842. People get organized to set up a flower memorial in honor o Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. The state that had similar parade as Chiapas was Veracruz
which involved ten thousand three hundred participants. There were several marching bands from public school students. Much of the people were wearing the colors of the Mexican flag or were characterized like the significant "adelitas" (women in the Mexican Revolution
). Also there was a live play involving the principal characters of the independence and the appearance of the special police which put up the show of rescuing by helicopter. .
In Mérida, Yucatán
people went to the "Monumento a la Patria" to celebrate Mexico's Bicentennial. From an early hour, people from Yucatán and tourists were walking around the "Paseo de Montejo" which is the most legendary part in the city to celebrate. The entertainment of the night was in charge of the singer Juan Gabriel, Mariachis and a Rock Band. In the hall event, there was the presence of the local and federal police, the Mexican Army, firefighters and the air force. In addition the mayor, governor, legislator and head chief were at the celebration.
In Guerrero
the principal celebrations took place at the Plaza Civica were the people was entertained by a folk ballet, a play called "Hay que darle libertad al preso" (Lets gave freedom to the prisoner), and music from famous bands as La Sonora Dinamita.
The "grito" in Michoacán
was given one hour and a half before of the rain but the authorities said that it was for the people, so they could see the celebrations on Mexico City. There were about 3000 people there. Since the attack of 2008, there was a big safety device with metal detectors and police dogs. The government distributed raincoats to the people present.
Tabasco was affected by Hurricane Karl and produced the overflow of the principal rivers. A lot of municipalities were declared emergency places and the celebrations were affected. Andrés Granier, governor of Tabasco, suspended the military parade that was going to take place at September 16.
CNN
reported that Mexico's bicentennial was an event that many people waited for several years. Despite this, they reported that many Mexican citizens felt that it was not a good year for celebration because of the problems Mexico
has. Citizens were more concerned about the drug war that was taking place in the northern part of the country. Then, some of the Mexican states canceled celebrations. Mexico faced the economic world crisis, being the most affected country of Latin America. In terms of tourism, the nation is suffering a drop because of the violence and the flu pandemic of last year. The Mexican government put all their efforts in this celebration but the citizens just felt that it was because the government wanted them to forget the current situation of the country.
TIME Magazine published that after 200 years of the Mexican independence, Mexico
had many reasons for celebration. The country had experienced development in economic, cultural, and political issues. In spite of this, Mexican citizens preferred to celebrate it in their homes and not on the local town squares. They were afraid of the insecurity problems that the nation is facing. In many parts of Mexico this celebration was muted by the different problems, especially the drug trafficking. Mexico hoped that the Revolution's centennial celebration would not be spoilt.
Considering the Mexican Bicentennial as a positive event is not correct from the perspective of some people. Mexico is first of all experiencing a drug war that" has taken more than 28,000 lives" within the last four years. For this reason, several bicentennial celebrations, particularly around the Mexican- U.S. border, have been canceled due to safety concerns. Other people criticize the fact of spending tens of millions of dollars that should" be better spent on schools, health care and other pressing social needs" the country has.
In fact, La Prensa interviewed several people who spoke about the "celebrations in an uninhabited nation" due to the fear and insecurity existing in a lot of northern and central villages in Mexico. The author also criticized that the bicentennial celebrations did not achieved what the country really needs: respect of the law and authority, the honest payment of taxes by the population and their general commitment to the nation.
Even if there are some criticisms about the Mexican's Bicentennial celebrations, some other people who were interviewed by La Prensa think that this event creates a "sense of unity" at a time where Mexicans are "living difficult times". They say that Mexicans precisely need these kinds of celebrations to "confront the problems" they are facing, and to come together.
Government authorities reported the assistance of over a million people that attended the celebrations due on the 15th of September in Paseo de la Reforma and Historic center.
There were no incidents reported in all the different stages where shows where presented. Marcelo Ebrad thanked all public servants for their participation. There were no injuries and only 9 persons were arrested for carrying weapons, weed and sharp objects.
The Secretariat of Public Education (SEP) discussed the possibility of creating a Museum for the Bicentennial.
The National Council for Culture and the Arts known as Conaculta, had been evaluating alternatives to see what to do with all the production of both the parade that took place along Paseo de la Reforma, and the show that was due in the Zocalo on the15th of September.
The reason why they were trying to create this museum is to show all the seven thousand costumes used, 27 floats, more than a hundred puppets,the Colossus of 8 tons, 45 giant screens and more than 11 thousand 800 objects and materials used during the Bicentennial celebration of Independence that are now stored in warehouses of the Federal Government
SEP had several meetings with the Administrative Office and with its legal department to specify which actions can be taken, within the bounds of the law.
The museum was finally created. The national gallery "Galeria de Palacio Nacional" was inaugurated on September 20 in the National Palace in Mexico City
, during the celebration dates, showing an exhibition called "Mexico 200 años. La patria en construccion". According to the opinion of the man in charge of restoring and looking after the pieces of the exhibition, whose name is Miguel Ángel Fernandez, it is the right moment for Mexicans to make a reflection about these 200 years of independent life. When he was interviewed by the news agency Milenium, he said that Mexicans can make this reflection after having contact with the moments that led to the construction of the country. Fernandez also referred to the importance of the building where the exposition takes place, Palacio National, which is the location of the executive power, where the presidents carry on "El grito", and the bell of the independence is rang. He said that the building itself is emblematic. Then he quoted Diego Rivera on the building Placio Nacional:"It is the hearth of the Nation".
The exhibition was full of symbols and patriotic content. It showed elements related to key moments and key personalities for the independence. It includes more than 550 historical pieces. Some examples are the independence act, the sword of Morelos (Independence leader) the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe that was used as an independence movement banner, and the fundamental document for the declaration of the independence, known as "Sentimientos de la Nación". Fernandez made a reflection in reference to the exhibition: "The exhibition is an emotive and marvelous way, but the construction of the nation do not ends now, this is why this gallery and this great exhibition exist".
CNN
reported that Mexico's bicentennial was an event that many people waited during several years. Despite this, they reported that many Mexican citizens felt that it was not a good year for celebration because of the problems Mexico
have. The citizens were more concerned about the drug war that was taking place in the northern part of the country. Then, part of the Mexican states canceled the celebration. Another problem in Mexico was the economic rebound from the world crisis, as Mexico
was the most affected country of Latin America. On terms of tourism the nation is suffering a drop on it by the violence and the flu pandemic of the last year. The Mexican government put all their efforts in this celebration but the citizens just felt that it was because the government wanted them to forget the actual situation of the country.
TIME Magazine published that at 200 years of the Mexican independence, Mexico
had many reasons for celebration. The country had succeeded in economic, cultural, and political issues. In spite of this, Mexican citizens preferred to celebrate it in their homes and not on the local "plazas." They were afraid of the insecurity problems that the nation is facing. The Mexican president, Felipe Calderón
, had faced this insecurity problem with a military offensive and accepting that the drug battle in a bilateral responsibility. In many parts of Mexico this celebration was muted by the different problems, specially the drug trafficking. Mexico had its hope in the Revolution's centennial celebration for not to be muted.
Considering the Mexican Bicentennial as a positive event is not correct from the perspective of some people. Mexico is first of all experiencing a drug war that" has taken more than 28,000 lives" within the last four years. For this reason, several bicentennial celebrations, particularly around the Mexican-American border, have been canceled due to safety concerns. Other people criticize the fact of spending tens of millions of dollars that should" be better spent on schools, health care and other pressing social needs" the country possesses.
In fact some people speak about the "celebrations in an uninhabited nation" due to the fear and insecurity existing in a lot of northern and central villages in Mexico. It is also criticized that the bicentennial celebrations did not achieved what the country really needs: respect of the law and authority, the honest payment of taxes by the population and their general commitment to the nation.
The Secretariat of Public Education (SEP) has discussed the possibility of creating a Museum for the Bicentennial.
The National Council for Culture and the Arts, had been evaluating alternatives to see what to do with all the production of both the parade that took place along Paseo de la Reforma, and the show that was due in the Zocalo on the15th of September.
The reason why they were trying to create this museum is to show all the seven thousand costumes used, 27 floats, more than a hundred puppets,the Colossus of 8 tons, 45 giant screens and more than 11 thousand 800 objects and materials used during the Bicentennial celebration of Independence that are now stored in warehouses of the Federal Government
SEP had several meetings with the Administrative Office and with its legal department to specify which actions can be taken, within the bounds of the law.
The museum was finally created. The national gallery "Galeria de Palacio Nacional" was inaugurated on September 20 in the National Palace in Mexico City
, during the celebration dates, showing an exhibition called "Mexico 200 años. La patria en construccion". According to the opinion of the man in charge of restoring and looking after the pieces of the exhibition, whose name is Miguel Ángel Fernandez, it is the right moment for Mexicans to make a reflection about these 200 years of independent life. When he was interviewed by the news agency Milenium, he said that Mexicans can make this reflection after having contact with the moments that led to the construction of the country. Fernandez also referred to the importance of the building where the exposition takes place, Palacio National, which is the location of the executive power, where the presidents carry on "El grito", and the bell of the independence is rang. He said that the building itself is emblematic. Then he quoted Diego Rivera on the building Placio Nacional:"It is the hearth of the Nation".
The exhibition was full of symbols and patriotic content. It showed elements related to key moments and key personalities for the independence. It includes more than 550 historical pieces. Some examples are the independence act, the sword of Morelos (Independence leader) the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe that was used as an independence movement banner, and the fundamental document for the declaration of the independence, known as "Sentimientos de la Nación". Fernandez made a reflection in reference to the exhibition: "The exhibition is an emotive and marvelous way, but the construction of the nation do not ends now, this is why this gallery and this great exhibition exist".
Mexican War of Independence
The Mexican War of Independence was an armed conflict between the people of Mexico and the Spanish colonial authorities which started on 16 September 1810. The movement, which became known as the Mexican War of Independence, was led by Mexican-born Spaniards, Mestizos and Amerindians who sought...
and 100th anniversary of its Revolution
Mexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle that started in 1910, with an uprising led by Francisco I. Madero against longtime autocrat Porfirio Díaz. The Revolution was characterized by several socialist, liberal, anarchist, populist, and agrarianist movements. Over time the Revolution...
. The entire year was proclaimed by President Felipe Calderón
Felipe Calderón
Felipe de Jesús Calderón Hinojosa is the current President of Mexico. He assumed office on December 1, 2006, and was elected for a single six-year term through 2012...
as "Año de la Patria", or "Year of the Nation." 16 September 1810 is the day of the "Grito de Dolores
Grito de Dolores
The Grito de Dolores also known as El Grito de la Independencia , uttered from the small town of Dolores, near Guanajuato on April 19, 1810 is the event that marks the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence and is the most important national holiday observed in Mexico...
" or Miguel Hidalgo's call to take up arms against Spanish colonial government. The start of the Mexican Revolution is celebrated as being 20 November 1910, when Francisco "Pancho" Villa and Pascual Orozco
Pascual Orozco
Pascual Orozco Vazquez was a Mexican revolutionary leader who, after the triumph of the Mexican Revolution, rose up against Francisco I...
led the first insurrectionist attack. Events and other promotions of these celebrations were designed to link of Mexico's identity and historic continuity. During a speech at the inauguration of the Casa de Allende (Allende House) Historic Museum, Felipe Calderón called upon Mexico to use the upcoming anniversaries to reflect on where the country has been and to think about what kind of Mexico descendants will inherit in the future. He said the vision of the insurgents of the War of Independence was forward, not backward, so every celebration of these past events must consider the future as well.
16 September and 20 November dates
The two dates represent the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence and Mexican Revolution respectively. The anniversary of the War of Independence is called "El Grito" (The Shout or The Cry) and takes place at 11pm on 15 September, with the following day 16 September officially marking Mexico's Independence. El Grito is an re-enactment of the call made by Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla in Dolores HidalgoDolores Hidalgo
Dolores Hidalgo Dolores Hidalgo Dolores Hidalgo (in full, Dolores Hidalgo Cuna de la Independencia Nacional is the name of a city and the surrounding municipality in the north-central part of the Mexican state of Guanajuato....
, Guanajuato
Guanajuato
Guanajuato officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Guanajuato is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 46 municipalities and its capital city is Guanajuato....
at around 6 am on September 16, 1810 to his parish to take up arms against the Spanish colonial government. Each year, this re-enactment occurs not only on the main square (Zócalo
Zócalo
The Zócalo is the main plaza or square in the heart of the historic center of Mexico City. The plaza used to be known simply as the "Main Square" or "Arms Square," and today its formal name is Plaza de la Constitución...
) of the capital, Mexico City, but also on every main plaza in almost all communities in the country.
The date of 20 November is used to mark the start of the Mexican Revolution, or the uprising and civil war that took place from 1910 to 1920. Presidential contender Francisco I. Madero chose the date in his Plan of San Luis Potosí
Plan of San Luis Potosí
The Plan of San Luis de Potosí was a political document written in San Antonio, Texas, United States, and published in the Mexican city of San Luis Potosí in 1910. The document ushered in the Mexican revolution and the collapse of the Presidency of Porfirio Díaz...
to begin an uprising against President Porfirio Díaz
Porfirio Díaz
José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori was a Mexican-American War volunteer and French intervention hero, an accomplished general and the President of Mexico continuously from 1876 to 1911, with the exception of a brief term in 1876 when he left Juan N...
who had through Madero in jail rather than accept his victory in the elections of 1910. Although violence against the Díaz regime had already broken out in the name of this Plan, the date is still considered official.
Preparations
The national committee to organize celebrations for both events was created by decree in March 2006 by President Vicente FoxVicente Fox
Vicente Fox Quesada is a Mexican former politician who served as President of Mexico from 1 December 2000 to 30 November 2006 and currently serves as co-President of the Centrist Democrat International, an international organization of Christian democratic political parties.Fox was elected...
, after Congress
Congress of Mexico
The Congress of the Union is the legislative branch of the Mexican government...
declared that the year 2010 should be dedicated equally to both anniversaries. Eventually, the committee came under the direction of Felipe Calderón
Felipe Calderón
Felipe de Jesús Calderón Hinojosa is the current President of Mexico. He assumed office on December 1, 2006, and was elected for a single six-year term through 2012...
. Calderón officially installed the Organizing Committee of the Commemoration of the Bicentennial of the Start of the Movement of National Independence and Centennial of the Start of the Revolution in March 2007. In 2007, at the 97th anniversary of the Mexican Revolution, Calderón presented the Base Program of the Commemoration of the Bicentennial of the Start of Independence and the Centennial of the Start of the Mexican Revolution. Most preparations revolved around construction and reconstruction projects as well as planning for events related to 2010. Many of these commemorations were planned for venues outside of Mexico such as in Mexico's 147 diplomatic missions in the world. Mexico is also involved with the Grupo Bicentenario de Latinoamérica (Latin American Bicentennial Group). Programs and activities were coordinated among a number of countries for between 2009 and 2011 as many Latin American countries celebrate their bicentennials. This nations include countries such as Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, Ecuador
Ecuador
Ecuador , officially the Republic of Ecuador is a representative democratic republic in South America, bordered by Colombia on the north, Peru on the east and south, and by the Pacific Ocean to the west. It is one of only two countries in South America, along with Chile, that do not have a border...
, El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
, Paraguay
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
and Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
coordinating events such as debates, publications, celebrations and festivals. In various cities in Spain, the city sponsored an exposition called "Ciudad de México, Ciudad solidaria, Capital de asilos" (Mexico City: Capital of Solidarity, Capital of asylum), consisting mostly of Instamatic photographs. It looked back on the country's role as a refuge for political refugees from fascists regimes of World War II as well as from other Latin American countries. In addition to preparations by the federal government, most state governments began similar preparations as well, especially the state of Guanajuato, which is the site of Dolores Hidalgo and El Grito.
On 6 September 2009, Felipe Calderón lit the "Fuego Bicentenario" or Bicentennial Fire in front of the National Palace. This flame traveled all around Mexico over the next twelve months, ending on the date of the Bicentennial of Independence. Media events to promote the upcoming celebrations as well as to retell the stories of both historical events appeared on Mexican television. One example of this was "Expedición 1808, travesía por los bicentenarios de Iberoamérica" (Expedition 1808: a journey through the Bicentennials of Latin America) In Mexico State, six cities were declared "Bicentennial Cities", and slated for improvements in their industrial zones, roadways, parks and public space. In Guerrero, the National Institute of Anthropology and History
National Institute of Anthropology and History
The Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia is a Mexican federal government bureau established in 1939 to guarantee the research, preservation, protection, and promotion of the prehistoric, archaeological, anthropological, historical, and paleontological heritage of Mexico...
is working to declare the entire old downtown of Chilpancingo as a historic site, due to the multiple events of both the War of Independence and the Revolution that occurred there.
In the Zocalo
Zócalo
The Zócalo is the main plaza or square in the heart of the historic center of Mexico City. The plaza used to be known simply as the "Main Square" or "Arms Square," and today its formal name is Plaza de la Constitución...
(main square) in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
a large digital clock counted down to the 15 September 2010 and 20 November 2010 dates. Similar countdown clocks were located in the cities of Cuernavaca
Cuernavaca
Cuernavaca is the capital and largest city of the state of Morelos in Mexico. It was established at the archeological site of Gualupita I by the Olmec, "the mother culture" of Mesoamerica, approximately 3200 years ago...
, Tlaxcala
Tlaxcala, Tlaxcala
The city of Tlaxcala is the capital and chief center of population of the Mexican state of Tlaxcala. The city is located at in the south-central portion of the state. In the census of 2005 the city had a population of 15,777 inhabitants and was by far the smallest state capital in Mexico. It is...
, Chilpancingo
Chilpancingo
Chilpancingo de los Bravo is the capital and second-largest city of the state of Guerrero, Mexico. It is located at . In the 2005 census the population of the city was 166,796. Its surrounding municipality, of which it is municipal seat, had a population of 214,219 persons...
, Tepic
Tepic
Tepic is the capital and largest city of the Mexican state of Nayarit.It is located in the central part of the state, at.It stands at an altitude above sea level of some 915 meters, on the banks of the Río Mololoa and the Río Tepic, approximately 225 kilometers north-west of Guadalajara, Jalisco....
, Nayarit
Nayarit
Nayarit officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Nayarit is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 20 municipalities and its capital city is Tepic.It is located in Western Mexico...
. and all the other capital cities of the 31 states.
Commemorative routes
The most visible preparation to date in Mexico itself is the appearance of "Ruta 2010" signs on many of the nation's highways and roads in most Mexican states. These routes have been created to link monuments related to the two events as well as movements of armies and other key players of both the Bicentennial and Centennial. The Secretariat of Communications and TransportationSecretariat of Communications and Transportation (Mexico)
The Secretariat of Communications and Transportation of Mexico is a federal entity that regulates commercial road traffic and broadcasting...
is in charge of allocating resources to signal these roads and provide tourist information both on their website and on the roads themselves. These routes connect historical sites like the Casa del Marques in the historic center of Mexico City, the San Diego Fort Museum in Acapulco
Acapulco
Acapulco is a city, municipality and major sea port in the state of Guerrero on the Pacific coast of Mexico, southwest from Mexico City. Acapulco is located on a deep, semi-circular bay and has been a port since the early colonial period of Mexico’s history...
, the Museum of the Viceroyalty, the National Museum of Anthropology, the National History Museum
Museo Nacional de Historia
The Museo Nacional de Historia is a national museum of Mexico, located inside Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City...
, the Casa de Allende Museum, the Casa Morelos Museum, the Alhóndiga de Granaditas
Alhóndiga de Granaditas
The Alhóndiga de Granaditas is an old grain storage building in Guanajuato City, Mexico. This historic building was created to replace an old granary near the city's river. Its construction lasted from 1798 to 1809, by orders of Juan Antonio de Riaño y Bárcena, a Spaniard who was the quartermaster...
and the Museum of the Casa of Padre Hidalgo.
These roads are subdivided by the specific event they trace. The Independence Road, which includes the Freedom Route, follows the path of Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla from Dolores Hidalgo
Dolores Hidalgo
Dolores Hidalgo Dolores Hidalgo Dolores Hidalgo (in full, Dolores Hidalgo Cuna de la Independencia Nacional is the name of a city and the surrounding municipality in the north-central part of the Mexican state of Guanajuato....
, Guanajuato
Guanajuato
Guanajuato officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Guanajuato is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 46 municipalities and its capital city is Guanajuato....
, to the state of Chihuahua, passing through a number of other states such as Querétaro
Querétaro
Querétaro officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Querétaro de Arteaga is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 18 municipalities and its capital city is Santiago de Querétaro....
and Michoacán
Michoacán
Michoacán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Michoacán de Ocampo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 113 municipalities and its capital city is Morelia...
. This road traces the first campaigns of the War of Independence to the site of Hidalgo's execution. The Sentiments of the Nation Route, named after the eponymous document by José María Morelos y Pavón, follows his campaigns through the states of Michoacán, Guerrero
Guerrero
Guerrero officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Guerrero is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 81 municipalities and its capital city is Chilpancingo....
, Oaxaca
Oaxaca
Oaxaca , , officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca is one of the 31 states which, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided into 571 municipalities; of which 418 are governed by the system of customs and traditions...
, Morelos
Morelos
Morelos officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Morelos is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 33 municipalities and its capital city is Cuernavaca....
, Mexico State, Puebla
Puebla
Puebla officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Puebla is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 217 municipalities and its capital city is Puebla....
, Veracruz
Veracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
and Chiapas
Chiapas
Chiapas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Chiapas is one of the 31 states that, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 118 municipalities and its capital city is Tuxtla Gutierrez. Other important cites in Chiapas include San Cristóbal de las...
. The Route of the Three Guarantees maps out the campaigns fought by Agustín de Iturbide
Agustín de Iturbide
Agustín Cosme Damián de Iturbide y Aramburu , also known as Augustine I of Mexico, was a Mexican army general who built a successful political and military coalition that was able to march into Mexico City on 27 September 1821, decisively ending the Mexican War of Independence...
, who brought the War for Independence to a close in 1821. The runs from Iguala
Iguala
The historic city of Iguala de la Independencia is located from state capital Chilpancingo in the Mexican state of Guerrero. It stands on Federal Highway 95. Iguala is the municipal seat of the municipality of the same name, located in the north-central part of the state. The city had a 2005...
, Guerrero, to Mexico City.
Routes following the major events of the Mexican Revolution include the Democracy Route, mostly outlining the road taken by Francisco I. Madero
Francisco I. Madero
Francisco Ignacio Madero González was a politician, writer and revolutionary who served as President of Mexico from 1911 to 1913. As a respectable upper-class politician, he supplied a center around which opposition to the dictatorship of Porfirio Díaz could coalesce...
from Ciudad Juárez
Ciudad Juárez
Ciudad Juárez , officially known today as Heroica Ciudad Juárez, but abbreviated Juárez and formerly known as El Paso del Norte, is a city and seat of the municipality of Juárez in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. Juárez's estimated population is 1.5 million people. The city lies on the Rio Grande...
to Mexico City after being elected president in 1911. The route starts in Parras, Coahuila, his hometown, and passes through the cities of San Luis Potosí
San Luis Potosí, San Luis Potosí
San Luis Potosí, commonly called SLP or simply San Luis, is the capital of, and most populous city in the Mexican state of the same name. The city lies at an elevation of 1,850 meters...
, Ciudad Juárez, Piedras Negras
Piedras Negras, Coahuila
-Natural Resources:This region generates a large amount of the national production of coal, one of the most economically important non-metallic minerals in the state.-Tourism:Piedras Negras' main tourist attractions are:...
, Torreón
Torreón
Torreón is a city and seat of the surrounding municipality of the same name in the Mexican state of Coahuila. As of 2010, the city's population was 608,836 with 639,629 in the municipality. The metropolitan population, including Matamoros, Coahuila, and Gómez Palacio and Lerdo in adjacent Durango,...
, Zacatecas
Zacatecas, Zacatecas
Zacatecas is a city and municipality in Mexico and the capital of the state of Zacatecas. It is located in the north central part of the country. The city had its start as a Spanish mining camp in the mid 16th century. Prior to this, the area's rich deposits in silver and other minerals were known...
, Aguascalientes
Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes
The city of Aguascalientes is the capital of the state of Aguascalientes in western central Mexico. It stands on the banks of the Río Aguascalientes, 1880 meters above sea level, at...
and León
León, Guanajuato
The city of León, formally León de los Aldama is the sixth most populous city in Mexico and the first in the state of Guanajuato. It is also the seat of the municipality of León...
. The Zapatista Route traces the operations of the Zapatista Army of National Liberation
Zapatista Army of National Liberation
The Zapatista Army of National Liberation is a revolutionary leftist group based in Chiapas, the southernmost state of Mexico....
through the states of Morelos, Puebla and Mexico State. The Constitutionalist Revolution Route is the conjunction of the routes of Venustiano Carranza
Venustiano Carranza
Venustiano Carranza de la Garza, was one of the leaders of the Mexican Revolution. He ultimately became President of Mexico following the overthrow of the dictatorial Huerta regime in the summer of 1914 and during his administration the current constitution of Mexico was drafted...
, Álvaro Obregón
Álvaro Obregón
General Álvaro Obregón Salido was the President of Mexico from 1920 to 1924. He was assassinated in 1928, shortly after winning election to another presidential term....
, Francisco Villa and Pablo González Garza
Pablo González Garza
Pablo González Garza was a Mexican General during the Mexican Revolution. He is considered to be the main organizer of the assassination of Emiliano Zapata....
, four other key players of the Revolution. These routes wander through just about all of the northern and central states.
Infrastructure projects
Physical preparations in the city include a Commemorative Arch on Paseo de la ReformaPaseo de la Reforma
Paseo de la Reforma is a wide avenue that runs in a straight line, cutting diagonally across Mexico City. It was designed by Ferdinand von Rosenzweig in the 1860s and modeled after the great boulevards of Europe, such as Vienna's Ringstrasse or the Champs-Élysées in Paris...
, the new Mexican Children's Library, a Virtual Museum, the movement of the General Archive of the Nation
Archivo General de la Nación (Mexico)
The Archivo General de la Nación is charged by the Mexican state to "be the governing body of the national archives and the central consultative entity of the Federal Executive." The writer Edmundo O'Gorman was its general director from 1938 until 1952...
to a new building. The Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
government is restoring a clock given to Mexico for its Centennial celebrations by the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
.
As of August 2009, most of the preparations consisted of restoring historical buildings and sites related to the Bicentennial or the Centennial. Museums in Guanajuato state such as the Casa de Allende Museum, the Museum of Dolores Hidalgo
Dolores Hidalgo
Dolores Hidalgo Dolores Hidalgo Dolores Hidalgo (in full, Dolores Hidalgo Cuna de la Independencia Nacional is the name of a city and the surrounding municipality in the north-central part of the Mexican state of Guanajuato....
, and the Alhóndiga de Granaditas have been remodeled and/or inaugurated at a cost of seven million pesos. In Querétaro, the 688925 m² (170 acre) The new "Bicentennial Park" was inaugurated in the north of the capital. In Mexico State, six cities were declared "Bicentennial Cities", and slated for improvements in their industrial zones, roadways, parks and public space. In Guerrero, the National Institute of Anthropology and History
National Institute of Anthropology and History
The Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia is a Mexican federal government bureau established in 1939 to guarantee the research, preservation, protection, and promotion of the prehistoric, archaeological, anthropological, historical, and paleontological heritage of Mexico...
is working to declare the entire old downtown of Chilpancingo as a historic site, due to the multiple events of both the War of Independence and the Revolution that occurred there. The state of Nuevo León
Nuevo León
Nuevo León It is located in Northeastern Mexico. It is bordered by the states of Tamaulipas to the north and east, San Luis Potosí to the south, and Coahuila to the west. To the north, Nuevo León has a 15 kilometer stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border adjacent to the U.S...
had 156 projects related to the two anniversaries and the state of Chihuahua will be celebrating the 300th anniversary of its capital city along with the other two.
In the restoration proyects, the Casa Allende Museum was the first museumm to be restored in the Bicentennial celebration. It took two years and seven million pesos. Its doors closed on October 2007 and started its restoration. This museum, reopened its doors and was reinagurated by the Mexican president Felipe Calderón in April 2009. The museum has now a new water pipe sistem and a draining sistem, some electric improvements, a new security sistem and a new illumination for the whole museum. [9]
Another important restoration project is found in the Alondiga de Granaditas which is a building where the first encounter took place in the independence. This place has been restored and it took 5.7 millions of pesos from Mexicos Anthropology Institute. Is a very simbolic place and it has been improved in many ways. Drain pipes, illumination, security cameras and bathrooms are few of the many improvements made to this museum. It has many galleries and writings from the national heroes.[10]
There has been also created a huge infrastructure project to celebrate the Mexican bicentennial. It is called "Ruta 2010", and it is about six new routes. These routes are for Mexicans to understand the meaning and importance of the historical zones in past years. They are also made for Mexicans to enjoy faster and more efficient access to new places. Three of these routes follow the independence movement took place in 1810 that and the other three follow the revolutionary movement of 1910.
This project is a cooperation of many Departments of State. The Transportation and Communication department will destine a big part of its resources to install any necessary sign on the correct roadways. The Tourism Department will cooperate with the correct information for Mexicans and Tourists to be informed. This information will announce all the new strategic access points in the new roadways. The "Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia" (INAH) will also reinforce its facilities in those places where museums, sites and monuments are located. This is to have a stronger Presence on those places that are historically more significant.
Many facts were taken into consideration in order to create these routes. Previously, there was not enough access to these historical zones, since many of them are very remote. There was not access through free roads, not even through "private roads" in which Mexicans pay a fee to use them. Therefore, Government decided to set out these routes, so that Mexicans can have easier and faster access and visit the most important historical places in the country.
There is also a project called "Mexico es mi Museo", it is an important part of the infrastructure project. This project is about the installation of special signs called "Mexico es mi Museo" (Mexico is my museum). These signs will be located at the most important historical places. The objective of this is to invite Mexicans and tourists to visit museums and get to know better the place in which they are located. This is also for them to understand the role that the place played during the independence and revolutionary movements.
There is historical and geographical information available on the official Mexican Bicentennial website. There is also available information for Communication routes and touristic places. People can also call a free number in order to hear more information about the infrastructure project in just a couple minutes. Since many of the historical places had a different name in the past, there are guides with the past names and the current names of these places for better reference. There are also maps with the location of these places.
Other Projects
PARQUE BICENTENARIO'
The Bicentennial park is one of the projects presented by the president Felipe Calderón: an ecological work inspired because of the Bicentennial of Mexico. The project is in the Stage of construction. The park will be integrated by Interactive museums, Audiences outdoors, sports fields, bicycling paths, children's games, areas for persons of the third age, pedestrian zones, besides many green areas. Is important to notice that this Project is to foment the cultural health in Mexicans, and particularly of the inhabitants of Azcapotzalco, Michael Hidalgo and part of the municipalities conurbados of the State of Mexico, the works are realized by the highest conditions of sanitary and environmental safety. The government has invested over two billion pesos. The president declared that this is an important project for the Mexican people because it is an environmental, urban and social park.
CORREDOR MADERO
The chief of government of the Federal District, Marcelo Ebrard, was one of the persons presented in the inauguration of the pedestrian corridor in the street of Francisco I, located in the Center Históric. The chief of government of the Federal District describe those corridor as one of the most important of the city, this was a perfect example of how important is to recover public spaces. The secretary of Urban Development and Housing, Philip Leal, said that the project of peatonalización had an investment of almost 30 million. In they installed 130 new lights, 12 bankings, three modules of newspaper and 120 bolardos.
BICENTENNIAL ARC
Project presented by 24 young Mexican architects. Cesar Perez Becerril was the head of the Project. Monument that will be raised on Walk of the Reform, at a height of the gratings of The Lions, of Chapultepec's Forest. This monument represents every fight and difficulty for which Mexico has happened. But always looking this way above at our dreams as Mexicans. Not forgetting our past but if seeing to the future.
Cultural projects
Highlighted among the many projects designed exhibits of pre-Hispanic, Spanish, modern and contemporary Mexican art at the most important capitals of the world, historic routes, shows, publications, seminars, the opening of 10 new archeological sites, maintenance to the country's most important pre-Hispanic sites and the remodeling of thirty museums. This work involves a complex museography and the consolidation of historic buildings in six states to commemorate the Independence and historic buildings in eight states to commemorate the Revolution, with a budget of over 300 million pesos.TV & movie projects
The television network TelevisaTelevisa
Televisa is a Mexican multimedia conglomerate, the largest mass media company in Latin America and in the Spanish-speaking world. It is a major international entertainment business, with much of its programming airing in the United States on Univision, with which it has an exclusive contract...
is producing a historical "television-novel" to commemorate the Bicentennial, which will be titled "Senda de gloria" or "Path of Glory." It is produced with the cooperation of the Office of the President of Mexico
President of Mexico
The President of the United Mexican States is the head of state and government of Mexico. Under the Constitution, the president is also the Supreme Commander of the Mexican armed forces...
. More academically, one of the major projects is the publication of a fourteen-volume work discussion how Mexico has arrived at the 21st century, written by more than 100 researchers from the El Colegio de México
El Colegio de México
El Colegio de México, A.C. is a prestigious Mexican institute of higher education, specializing in teaching and research in the social sciences and the humanities...
. One of the volumes is a Dictionary of the Spanish of Mexico, another is an analysis of Mexico's condition in the 21st century and a number are devoted to the history of each of the states and the economy of the country.
Another production of Televisa group is the television-novel called "Gritos de muerte y libertad" based in the Mexican history with the objective of commemorating . This production was supported by recognized historians like Héctor Aguilar Camín, Javier García Diego, Enrique Flores Cano and Rafael Rojas. The production by thirteen chapters with the collaboration of actors like Alejandro Tommasi and Diego Luna. It was premiered on August 30 and ended on September 16 and it was well received by critics, counting with a good budget and showing different parts of the country like Texcoco, Dolores Hidalgo and Guanajuato.
One of the biggest projects are the "Bicentennial Olympics". It consists in a series of sporting events, swimming,table tennis and basketball . The inauguration was in Reforma Avenue in Mexico City . Michael Phelps was invited to a race in the inauguration of this Olympics, as well as many other famous and important athletes.
As part of the commemorations of the Bicentennial of Independence and the Mexican Revolution, the Mexican Navy has a traveling exhibition of these topics.
The exhibition began on January 7 in the city of Querétaro where through screens are various topics such as stages of the movement of 1810, which shows the various campaigns of the priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla and many other characters involved in this movement.
Museum Exhibits
President Calderon declared that concept of the project Mexico is my museum is to turn the country into the biggest museum in the world. Also this will help Mexicans discover more about their past and learn more about the cultural value of the historical aspects.This project consists on learning Mexican history. In the most important places in the country, through a cell phone message that will explain each of the places and their historical meaning.
Celebrations Events
that a lot of families can come together and have a great and healthy time. The Park is located at the former site of the 18 de Marzo R. The Bicentennial Park is one of the most important projects for the celebration of the Independence Bicentennial, in which the federal government.Mexico City
On the night of September 15, 2010 around a million people gathered at the "Zocalo" and "Angel de la Independencia" to celebrate two hundred years of freedom.The Angel of the Independence hosted a parade of popular young musicians like Aleks Syntek, Paulina Rubio, Ely Guerra and Natalia Lafourcade.
Thousands of persons took advantage of the opportunity of seeing closely to his idols and of step to enjoy the native holidays.
The director of the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas, Alondra de la Parra, was the one that began to the concert in The Angel on the occasion of the Bicentenary and Centenary of the Revolution. Lo Blondo and Ely Guerra were the first ones invited in rising to the scene and parting with the rock that it characterizes them they gave voice to the topic " Only once ". Within a few minutes, Natalia Lafourcade joined the duet and already as soloist I continue the recital with the Jose Alfredo Jiménez's classic one " I dawned again ".
The change of pace came when the DJ Alyosa Barreiro, offered a set of electronic music and opened to Aleks Syntek, not without before, the drivers Julio Bracho and Vanessa Bauche invited to the hearing to mention them the mother the assistants in the events carried out in the "Zocalo" and in the statue of "El Caballito".
The celebrations of the two hundred anniversary of the National Independence at the "Zocalo" began at 5 PM with the "Ritual del Fuego" ceremony in which around 40 grandfathers of different regions of the country participated.
After the ritual tree "mariachi" groups and a theater group arrived and performed typical songs of the Mexican culture.
Two different shows were presented after this. (Arbol de la Vida and Vuela Mexico)
The "Arbol de la Vida" show had its own stage and through different figures of the independence heroes they represented different aspects and moments of Mexico's history.
"Vuela Mexico" was an acrobatic number were the dancers formed the word Mexico using their bodies.
At 11:00 PM, like all the years, the celebration was interrupted and the president, Felipe Calderón Hinojosa, appeared and received from the hands of a military escort the flag of Mexico and then walked to the balcony where he rang the liberty bell, remembered and yelled all the independence heroe's names and then rang the bell again.
At 11:05 the national anthem was played and all the people gathered sang along. Everything was followed by the bicentennial firework show that amazed all the people.
At 11:30 Armando Manzanero appeared with the Yucalpeten Orchestra to perform his hits and closed all the celebrations at the Zocalo.
Miguel Hidalgo and Benito Juarez sectors are two of the main celebration points in Mexico City. In Benito Juarez sector, activities start with a official ceremony to Mexico's national flag. At night the sector's governor made the traditional "grito de independencia" to recall the memory of Mexican independence heroes. The events at this sector of the city consisted of coordinated civic events, which had a military ceremony style. In Miguel Hidalgo sector, there was a vast set of cultural performances: the Mexican dance company "Itlatiuh", then the "Sonora Dinamita" and the "Zona Rica", both popular music bands. The event will have the assistance of the orchestas and folklorikal ballets. Like in every traditional celebration there were mariachis, which come right before the "grito". The governor of this sector algos gives the "grito de independencia". The events at Miguel Hidalgo have the style of popular cultural events, so they differ a little from the ones in Benito Juarez.
The military parade of the Mexican independence bicentennial started at 11:00 o clock. The soldiers greeted and honored president Felipe Calderón Hinojosa, their supreme commander.
After the parade President Calderón went to the Plaza de la constitución accompanied by representatives of the congress and the Federal Court to listen the verse named "El canto a la bandera".
Right after the verse five aircraft flew across Mexico city and president Calderón made his way to the central balcony of the Mexican national palace. His wife Margarita Zavala and his children María, Luis Felipe and Juan Pablo were already waiting for him at the palace. Soon after his arrival the military abandoned The Plaza de la Constitución and made their way to the initial starting point of the parade.
For the celebration of Mexican Bicentennial independence anniversary,17 different friend countries of Mexico participated in the military parade celebrated on September 16, 2010.
In the presence of Felipe Calderón Hinojosa, president of Mexico, the military parade began with the free fall of 27 paratroopers,12 from the Navy and 15 from the army. Immediately after the contingency that conforms the parade column marched across "Plaza de la constitución". Each of the groups was led by women. The parade had the participation of 18 thousand 116 hundredth effectives of the Mexican army, Navy and the Federal Public Security Secretary.
Being an special occasion military delegations from Germany, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, China, Colombia, El Salvador, Spain, United States, France, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Russia, Peru and Venezuela also participated in the parade.
A total of 176 flags, among them the first two of the Mexican army that where held by Spain government traveled the circuit that goes from "Plaza de la constitución" to the Angel de la Independencia. 242 vehicles and 326 horses marched in front of National palace balcony.121 airplanes from Mexican Air Force (FAM) realized flybys. 680 elements from the motorized group, 92 vehicles of motorized cavalry, 207 effectives and 59 vehicles of the armored group as well as 499 elements and 63 artillery vehicles also participated in the parade. 219 women,240 elements from Mexican Air Force, 1556 combat troop elements,2867 students and seven vehicles of military traveled the path by foot.
From the Mexican Navy's 5 thousandth 2 hundredth elements participated in the parade and 636 from the Public Security Secretary. 326 elements of the cavalry división and 100 "charros" traveled the circuit to close the parade.
North of the country
The Bicentennial celebrations of the Mexican War of IndependenceMexican War of Independence
The Mexican War of Independence was an armed conflict between the people of Mexico and the Spanish colonial authorities which started on 16 September 1810. The movement, which became known as the Mexican War of Independence, was led by Mexican-born Spaniards, Mestizos and Amerindians who sought...
took place all over the country on September the 15th and 16th of 2010. Celebrations were different in every state, depending on each one's traditions and culture. Northern states, such as Sonora
Sonora
Sonora officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 72 municipalities; the capital city is Hermosillo....
and Chihuahua, had similar celebrations, as well as Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur , is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. Before becoming a state on October 8, 1974, the area was known as the South Territory of Baja California. It has an area of , or 3.57% of the land mass of Mexico and comprises...
(BCS) and Baja California Norte (BCN). All of the local governments of those states made public works like remodeling historic areas and organizing military parades. For example, in Sonora for the parade they reconstructed the "Bicentenario Plaza" to make the principal ceremony there. Although all northern states had similar celebrations, each one gave a traditional local touch to the Bicentennial events.
For the northern states near the Distrito Federal
Distrito Federal
Distrito Federal may refer to:*Mexican Federal District*Brazilian Federal District-See also:*Distrito Capital: Bogotá Capital District*Distrito Capital: Venezuelan Capital District...
, celebrations were a bit different from other parts of the country, but as important as the main festivity in the capital. In Morelia
Morelia
Morelia is a city and municipality in the north central part of the state of Michoacán in central Mexico. The city is in the Guayangareo Valley and is the capital of the state. The main pre-Hispanic cultures here were the P'urhépecha and the Matlatzinca, but no major cities were founded in the...
, Michoacán
Michoacán
Michoacán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Michoacán de Ocampo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 113 municipalities and its capital city is Morelia...
, after the attack in 2008 of an offender group at the ceremony of "el Grito de Independencia", the government established severer security measures this year. An example of this was the use of metal detectors and the presence of the Mexican Army
Mexican Army
The Mexican Army is the combined land and air branch and largest of the Mexican Military services; it also is known as the National Defense Army. It is famous for having been the first army to adopt and use an automatic rifle, , in 1899, and the first to issue automatic weapons as standard issue...
. In Querétaro
Querétaro
Querétaro officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Querétaro de Arteaga is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 18 municipalities and its capital city is Santiago de Querétaro....
, the traditional ceremony was performed without conflicts. Some majors began the ceremonies earlier and also took out the prohibition of alcohol. In Dolores Hidalgo
Dolores Hidalgo
Dolores Hidalgo Dolores Hidalgo Dolores Hidalgo (in full, Dolores Hidalgo Cuna de la Independencia Nacional is the name of a city and the surrounding municipality in the north-central part of the Mexican state of Guanajuato....
, Guanajuato
Guanajuato
Guanajuato officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Guanajuato is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 46 municipalities and its capital city is Guanajuato....
, which was the Cradle of Independence, the president Felipe Calderón
Felipe Calderón
Felipe de Jesús Calderón Hinojosa is the current President of Mexico. He assumed office on December 1, 2006, and was elected for a single six-year term through 2012...
re-acted the traditional "Grito" by saying the original dialogue that Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla proclaimed two hundred years ago. Finally, Coahuila
Coahuila
Coahuila, formally Coahuila de Zaragoza , officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Coahuila de Zaragoza is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico...
and Colima
Colima
Colima is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, make up the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It shares its name with its capital and main city, Colima....
organized the traditional ceremony with music, dances, fireworks and parties in all the municipalities throughout these five states.
Many states of the northwestern area celebrated Bicentennial festivities by organizing commemorative parades. In places like Aguascalientes
Aguascalientes
Aguascalientes is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 11 municipalities and its capital city is Aguascalientes....
, Durango
Durango
Durango officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Durango is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. The state is located in Northwest Mexico. With a population of 1,632,934, it has Mexico's second-lowest population density, after Baja...
, Jalisco
Jalisco
Jalisco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Jalisco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is located in Western Mexico and divided in 125 municipalities and its capital city is Guadalajara.It is one of the more important states...
, and Nayarit
Nayarit
Nayarit officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Nayarit is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 20 municipalities and its capital city is Tepic.It is located in Western Mexico...
the members of the Army attended the celebrations, but the participation of schools and security institutions characterized the parades. In Aguascalientes, the civic-military parade was made up by 2,040 elements from different schools, as well as 370 members of the Secretaría de Seguridad Pública y Tránsito. In Durango, there were more than 1,500 students from secondary, high school and professional levels, along with 68 professors. In the case of Jalisco, approximately 3,600 people participated, including soldiers, policemen, some members of the Secretaría de Seguridad Pública, etc. The Governor of Nayarit, Ney González, emphasized that it was because of children, youths and schools that the parade in the state succeeded.
In other northern states, such as Nuevo León
Nuevo León
Nuevo León It is located in Northeastern Mexico. It is bordered by the states of Tamaulipas to the north and east, San Luis Potosí to the south, and Coahuila to the west. To the north, Nuevo León has a 15 kilometer stretch of the U.S.-Mexico border adjacent to the U.S...
, Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas
Tamaulipas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Tamaulipas is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 43 municipalities and its capital city is Ciudad Victoria. The capital city was named after Guadalupe Victoria, the...
, Coahuila
Coahuila
Coahuila, formally Coahuila de Zaragoza , officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Coahuila de Zaragoza is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico...
, San Luis Potosí
San Luis Potosí
San Luis Potosí officially Estado Libre y Soberano de San Luis Potosí is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 58 municipalities and its capital city is San Luis Potosí....
and Zacatecas
Zacatecas
Zacatecas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Zacatecas is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 58 municipalities and its capital city is Zacatecas....
, the respective governors started the Bicentennial celebrations with the traditional civic ceremony. First, they took possession of the patriotic symbol (flag) and then proceeded to give "el Grito de Independencia". In these events, the governors mentioned the names of some characters who participated in the War of Independence by saying: "Mexicanos, vivan los héroes que nos dieron patria; Viva Hidalgo; Viva Morelos; Viva Allende; Viva la Independencia; Viva México; Viva México; Viva México". Later, the celebrations were complemented with fireworks, which lasted from 30 to 45 minutes in most of the federal entities. Finally, the festivity concluded with the inauguration of different monuments, public buildings (hospitals), artistic expositions, and with the military march past.
South of the country
The south of Mexico includes: TabascoTabasco
Tabasco officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Tabasco is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 17 municipalities and its capital city is Villahermosa....
, Veracruz
Veracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
, Guerrero
Guerrero
Guerrero officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Guerrero is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 81 municipalities and its capital city is Chilpancingo....
, Oaxaca
Oaxaca
Oaxaca , , officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca is one of the 31 states which, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided into 571 municipalities; of which 418 are governed by the system of customs and traditions...
, Chiapas
Chiapas
Chiapas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Chiapas is one of the 31 states that, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 118 municipalities and its capital city is Tuxtla Gutierrez. Other important cites in Chiapas include San Cristóbal de las...
, Campeche
Campeche
Campeche is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. Located in Southeast Mexico, it is bordered by the states of Yucatán to the north east, Quintana Roo to the east, and Tabasco to the south west...
, Quintana Roo
Quintana Roo
Quintana Roo officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Quintana Roo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 10 municipalities and its capital city is Chetumal....
, and Yucatán
Yucatán
Yucatán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Yucatán is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 106 municipalities and its capital city is Mérida....
. In general those states celebrated, like the rest of the country, with the traditional "Grito"-the 15th- and a military parade-the 16th of September-with a few distinguished traditions of each state; moreover, the celebrations distinguished by the presence of some political, and weather problems that limited the original plans.
In the state of Oaxaca
Oaxaca
Oaxaca , , officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca is one of the 31 states which, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided into 571 municipalities; of which 418 are governed by the system of customs and traditions...
, the "Grito" was given at 10:56 pm, in the Zocalo of the city. After the Mexican National Anthem was interpreted, the lights of fireworks illuminate the Cathedral. September 16 began with the hoisting of flag, on the "Alameda de Leon". The civic-military parade began at 10 am starting from the park "El Llano" and ending in "Plaza del Zocalo". When the parade finished, the Mexican national anthem was sung by the voices of the thousands of people that attended to the Zocalo of the city.
In Chiapas
Chiapas
Chiapas officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Chiapas is one of the 31 states that, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 118 municipalities and its capital city is Tuxtla Gutierrez. Other important cites in Chiapas include San Cristóbal de las...
the Bicentennial Celebration was very similar to Oaxaca. The "grito" was given in the night of September 15 and the military parade the following day. Moreover Chiapas began it celebration before, because they also celebrate the fact that Chiapas had become an official state of the country at September 14 of 1842. People get organized to set up a flower memorial in honor o Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla. The state that had similar parade as Chiapas was Veracruz
Veracruz
Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave , is one of the 31 states that, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided in 212 municipalities and its capital city is...
which involved ten thousand three hundred participants. There were several marching bands from public school students. Much of the people were wearing the colors of the Mexican flag or were characterized like the significant "adelitas" (women in the Mexican Revolution
Mexican Revolution
The Mexican Revolution was a major armed struggle that started in 1910, with an uprising led by Francisco I. Madero against longtime autocrat Porfirio Díaz. The Revolution was characterized by several socialist, liberal, anarchist, populist, and agrarianist movements. Over time the Revolution...
). Also there was a live play involving the principal characters of the independence and the appearance of the special police which put up the show of rescuing by helicopter. .
In Mérida, Yucatán
Yucatán
Yucatán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Yucatán is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 106 municipalities and its capital city is Mérida....
people went to the "Monumento a la Patria" to celebrate Mexico's Bicentennial. From an early hour, people from Yucatán and tourists were walking around the "Paseo de Montejo" which is the most legendary part in the city to celebrate. The entertainment of the night was in charge of the singer Juan Gabriel, Mariachis and a Rock Band. In the hall event, there was the presence of the local and federal police, the Mexican Army, firefighters and the air force. In addition the mayor, governor, legislator and head chief were at the celebration.
In Guerrero
Guerrero
Guerrero officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Guerrero is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 81 municipalities and its capital city is Chilpancingo....
the principal celebrations took place at the Plaza Civica were the people was entertained by a folk ballet, a play called "Hay que darle libertad al preso" (Lets gave freedom to the prisoner), and music from famous bands as La Sonora Dinamita.
The "grito" in Michoacán
Michoacán
Michoacán officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Michoacán de Ocampo is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 113 municipalities and its capital city is Morelia...
was given one hour and a half before of the rain but the authorities said that it was for the people, so they could see the celebrations on Mexico City. There were about 3000 people there. Since the attack of 2008, there was a big safety device with metal detectors and police dogs. The government distributed raincoats to the people present.
Tabasco was affected by Hurricane Karl and produced the overflow of the principal rivers. A lot of municipalities were declared emergency places and the celebrations were affected. Andrés Granier, governor of Tabasco, suspended the military parade that was going to take place at September 16.
Reflection
The twin events have led to reflections on the country's past and present. Luis Arriaga Valenzuela, the director of the human rights center "Centro de Derechos Humanos Miguel Agustín Pro Juárez, AC" in an article written for the Mexican newspaper "El Universal", pointed out that the Bicentennial represented an opportunity to make a reflection on the current situation of Mexico and the situation it had 200 years ago at the beginning of its independence. He considers that among the advances that Mexico has had in these 200 years, are: greater participation of the people, integration of marginalized groups, rights' organizations, etc. On the other hand, some problems persist and there are new ones for the list of problems. He says that the country side is abandoned, that the indigenous autonomy has not been recognized to the full, and that there is still imposition of certain projects that differs from the will of the communities. He also says that there is a lack of human right protection policies.CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
reported that Mexico's bicentennial was an event that many people waited for several years. Despite this, they reported that many Mexican citizens felt that it was not a good year for celebration because of the problems Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
has. Citizens were more concerned about the drug war that was taking place in the northern part of the country. Then, some of the Mexican states canceled celebrations. Mexico faced the economic world crisis, being the most affected country of Latin America. In terms of tourism, the nation is suffering a drop because of the violence and the flu pandemic of last year. The Mexican government put all their efforts in this celebration but the citizens just felt that it was because the government wanted them to forget the current situation of the country.
TIME Magazine published that after 200 years of the Mexican independence, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
had many reasons for celebration. The country had experienced development in economic, cultural, and political issues. In spite of this, Mexican citizens preferred to celebrate it in their homes and not on the local town squares. They were afraid of the insecurity problems that the nation is facing. In many parts of Mexico this celebration was muted by the different problems, especially the drug trafficking. Mexico hoped that the Revolution's centennial celebration would not be spoilt.
Considering the Mexican Bicentennial as a positive event is not correct from the perspective of some people. Mexico is first of all experiencing a drug war that" has taken more than 28,000 lives" within the last four years. For this reason, several bicentennial celebrations, particularly around the Mexican- U.S. border, have been canceled due to safety concerns. Other people criticize the fact of spending tens of millions of dollars that should" be better spent on schools, health care and other pressing social needs" the country has.
In fact, La Prensa interviewed several people who spoke about the "celebrations in an uninhabited nation" due to the fear and insecurity existing in a lot of northern and central villages in Mexico. The author also criticized that the bicentennial celebrations did not achieved what the country really needs: respect of the law and authority, the honest payment of taxes by the population and their general commitment to the nation.
Even if there are some criticisms about the Mexican's Bicentennial celebrations, some other people who were interviewed by La Prensa think that this event creates a "sense of unity" at a time where Mexicans are "living difficult times". They say that Mexicans precisely need these kinds of celebrations to "confront the problems" they are facing, and to come together.
Government authorities reported the assistance of over a million people that attended the celebrations due on the 15th of September in Paseo de la Reforma and Historic center.
There were no incidents reported in all the different stages where shows where presented. Marcelo Ebrad thanked all public servants for their participation. There were no injuries and only 9 persons were arrested for carrying weapons, weed and sharp objects.
The Secretariat of Public Education (SEP) discussed the possibility of creating a Museum for the Bicentennial.
The National Council for Culture and the Arts known as Conaculta, had been evaluating alternatives to see what to do with all the production of both the parade that took place along Paseo de la Reforma, and the show that was due in the Zocalo on the15th of September.
The reason why they were trying to create this museum is to show all the seven thousand costumes used, 27 floats, more than a hundred puppets,the Colossus of 8 tons, 45 giant screens and more than 11 thousand 800 objects and materials used during the Bicentennial celebration of Independence that are now stored in warehouses of the Federal Government
SEP had several meetings with the Administrative Office and with its legal department to specify which actions can be taken, within the bounds of the law.
The museum was finally created. The national gallery "Galeria de Palacio Nacional" was inaugurated on September 20 in the National Palace in Mexico City
National Palace (Mexico)
The National Palace, or Palacio Nacional in Spanish), was the seat of the federal executive in Mexico. It is located on Mexico City's main square, the Plaza de la Constitución...
, during the celebration dates, showing an exhibition called "Mexico 200 años. La patria en construccion". According to the opinion of the man in charge of restoring and looking after the pieces of the exhibition, whose name is Miguel Ángel Fernandez, it is the right moment for Mexicans to make a reflection about these 200 years of independent life. When he was interviewed by the news agency Milenium, he said that Mexicans can make this reflection after having contact with the moments that led to the construction of the country. Fernandez also referred to the importance of the building where the exposition takes place, Palacio National, which is the location of the executive power, where the presidents carry on "El grito", and the bell of the independence is rang. He said that the building itself is emblematic. Then he quoted Diego Rivera on the building Placio Nacional:"It is the hearth of the Nation".
The exhibition was full of symbols and patriotic content. It showed elements related to key moments and key personalities for the independence. It includes more than 550 historical pieces. Some examples are the independence act, the sword of Morelos (Independence leader) the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe that was used as an independence movement banner, and the fundamental document for the declaration of the independence, known as "Sentimientos de la Nación". Fernandez made a reflection in reference to the exhibition: "The exhibition is an emotive and marvelous way, but the construction of the nation do not ends now, this is why this gallery and this great exhibition exist".
CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
reported that Mexico's bicentennial was an event that many people waited during several years. Despite this, they reported that many Mexican citizens felt that it was not a good year for celebration because of the problems Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
have. The citizens were more concerned about the drug war that was taking place in the northern part of the country. Then, part of the Mexican states canceled the celebration. Another problem in Mexico was the economic rebound from the world crisis, as Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
was the most affected country of Latin America. On terms of tourism the nation is suffering a drop on it by the violence and the flu pandemic of the last year. The Mexican government put all their efforts in this celebration but the citizens just felt that it was because the government wanted them to forget the actual situation of the country.
TIME Magazine published that at 200 years of the Mexican independence, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
had many reasons for celebration. The country had succeeded in economic, cultural, and political issues. In spite of this, Mexican citizens preferred to celebrate it in their homes and not on the local "plazas." They were afraid of the insecurity problems that the nation is facing. The Mexican president, Felipe Calderón
Felipe Calderón
Felipe de Jesús Calderón Hinojosa is the current President of Mexico. He assumed office on December 1, 2006, and was elected for a single six-year term through 2012...
, had faced this insecurity problem with a military offensive and accepting that the drug battle in a bilateral responsibility. In many parts of Mexico this celebration was muted by the different problems, specially the drug trafficking. Mexico had its hope in the Revolution's centennial celebration for not to be muted.
Considering the Mexican Bicentennial as a positive event is not correct from the perspective of some people. Mexico is first of all experiencing a drug war that" has taken more than 28,000 lives" within the last four years. For this reason, several bicentennial celebrations, particularly around the Mexican-American border, have been canceled due to safety concerns. Other people criticize the fact of spending tens of millions of dollars that should" be better spent on schools, health care and other pressing social needs" the country possesses.
In fact some people speak about the "celebrations in an uninhabited nation" due to the fear and insecurity existing in a lot of northern and central villages in Mexico. It is also criticized that the bicentennial celebrations did not achieved what the country really needs: respect of the law and authority, the honest payment of taxes by the population and their general commitment to the nation.
The Secretariat of Public Education (SEP) has discussed the possibility of creating a Museum for the Bicentennial.
The National Council for Culture and the Arts, had been evaluating alternatives to see what to do with all the production of both the parade that took place along Paseo de la Reforma, and the show that was due in the Zocalo on the15th of September.
The reason why they were trying to create this museum is to show all the seven thousand costumes used, 27 floats, more than a hundred puppets,the Colossus of 8 tons, 45 giant screens and more than 11 thousand 800 objects and materials used during the Bicentennial celebration of Independence that are now stored in warehouses of the Federal Government
SEP had several meetings with the Administrative Office and with its legal department to specify which actions can be taken, within the bounds of the law.
The museum was finally created. The national gallery "Galeria de Palacio Nacional" was inaugurated on September 20 in the National Palace in Mexico City
National Palace (Mexico)
The National Palace, or Palacio Nacional in Spanish), was the seat of the federal executive in Mexico. It is located on Mexico City's main square, the Plaza de la Constitución...
, during the celebration dates, showing an exhibition called "Mexico 200 años. La patria en construccion". According to the opinion of the man in charge of restoring and looking after the pieces of the exhibition, whose name is Miguel Ángel Fernandez, it is the right moment for Mexicans to make a reflection about these 200 years of independent life. When he was interviewed by the news agency Milenium, he said that Mexicans can make this reflection after having contact with the moments that led to the construction of the country. Fernandez also referred to the importance of the building where the exposition takes place, Palacio National, which is the location of the executive power, where the presidents carry on "El grito", and the bell of the independence is rang. He said that the building itself is emblematic. Then he quoted Diego Rivera on the building Placio Nacional:"It is the hearth of the Nation".
The exhibition was full of symbols and patriotic content. It showed elements related to key moments and key personalities for the independence. It includes more than 550 historical pieces. Some examples are the independence act, the sword of Morelos (Independence leader) the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe that was used as an independence movement banner, and the fundamental document for the declaration of the independence, known as "Sentimientos de la Nación". Fernandez made a reflection in reference to the exhibition: "The exhibition is an emotive and marvelous way, but the construction of the nation do not ends now, this is why this gallery and this great exhibition exist".
External links
- Mexico Bicentennial - slideshow by The First PostThe First PostThe First Post is a British daily online news magazine based in London. It was launched in August 2005. It publishes news, current affairs, lifestyle, opinion, arts and sports pages, and it features an online games arcade and a cinema featuring short films, virals, trailers and eyewitness news...
- Spanish Reader about the Bicentennial of Mexico