¡Que Viva México!

Today and tomorrow, Mexico is celebrating its fiestas patrias, an annual holiday that commemorates the beginning of Mexico's struggle for independence from Spain in 1810.  Every year, Mexicans celebrate the fiestas patrias with great enthusiasm, but this year,  the holiday has taken on special importance.  In addition to being the Bicentennial of the Independence movement, it's also the 100-year anniversary of the beginning of the Mexican Revolution, one of the most significant social transformations of the 20th century. 

For the past month, I've been wondering what this Bicentennial/ Centennial celebration really means to the Mexican people.  Clearly, the government, the media, and the business sector in Mexico want people to feel proud of their history, their traditions, and the achievements of the nation.  Cities and towns all around the Republic are decked out in red, white and green banners, representing the colors of the Mexican flag.  Stores decorate the windows with cut out figures of Padre Hidalgo, José María Morelos, and Josefa Ortíz de Domínguez ("la Corregidora"), national heroes associated with Mexico's long war of independence.  There have been more than the usual number of patriotic movies on tv, old black and white classics that show beloved movie stars like Pedro Armendariz, María Felix, and Dolores del Rio reenacting Mexico's  historic struggles.  There's even a soap opera that retells the story of Mexico's Independence every night in 30 minute segments.  Vendors on street corners sell inexpensive costume jewelry, flags, sombreros and shawls, and makeshift costumes, corn on the cob, traditional sweets and toys.  Supermarkets have set up special displays of national products, especially food and drinks associate with the holiday.  Restaurants offer seasonal dishes, like the famous chiles en nogada, a patriotic combination of green chile peppers smothered in a white sauce rich with ground nuts and sprinkled with red pomegranate seeds.  TV commercials remind Mexicans to feel proud of their country, and to celebrate the holiday in traditional ways, with family and loved ones.  It feels like a combination of Christmas, New Year's Eve, Thanksgiving and Halloween, all rolled into one event.  It's festive and sweet, old-fashioned and a little corny, but fun and exciting at the same time.  Yes, there's a lot of hype, but most people seem to enjoy it, or at least tolerate it with good humor.  This year, to mark the special occasion, the President declared a "mega-puente," or super long weekend, giving people a holiday from the 15th until the 20th.  Mexicans now have a breathing space, a few days off from work, a time to celebrate and enjoy the holidays, even if they do nothing more than watch the festivities on tv.

Tonight,  the President of the Republic and mayors in every city and town across Mexico will stand on the balcony of the government building and wave the flag, echoing the words and actions of Padre Hidalgo who gave his famous "grito" from the village church in Dolores, a small town near Guanajuato. Hidalgo urged Mexicans into battle against the Spanish, and hurled Mexico into a war that lasted for eleven years.  Today, with all the problems Mexico is facing, I think people can relate to the turbulent times that Hidalgo lived in.  People are feeling a little uncertain about the future now, but they're still hopeful.  Nothing can take away their deep-seated belief that Mexico is an extraordinary country.  The natural beauty of the landscape, the rich and fertile soil that produces an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables all year round, the creativity and artistry of the people, the colors, the warmth, the generosity and kindness that people are capable of here, these are things that make all Mexicans proud.  It's easy to idealize Mexico, the way film directors used to do in those old black and white movies, but today, Mexicans are more aware than ever that blessings come mixed up with trouble.  La vida aquí no es fácil, life is not easy here.  I hear many poor and working class Mexicans say that every day, and it's very true. They struggle just to get by, and yet, they never seem to give up hope that things will get better one day.  The Bicentennial, some say, is all about showing the rest of the world that everything is fine in Mexico, there are no problems here.  Well, most Mexicans will be the first to tell you that yes, there are problems, but there is also beauty.  When they watch the fireworks and marvel at the bright lights, the pageantry, and the music that goes along with Mexico's celebration of independence, they aren't blinded by the spectacle, but they can still appreciate what it stands for.  It's a short break from worrying about life, it's a time to enjoy and have fun, to forget the problems, if only for a few days, and to remember the good times rather than the bad ones.  I will be standing next to my Mexican friends tonight and my voice will join theirs when we all shout "Viva México!   It's a real treat for me to witness this outpouring of national pride and love of all things Mexican.  As my friends clap and sing along with the mariachis and eat their tacos and pozole, they have a sense of being part of history.  For that moment, I feel a part of it too.