Mucho Gusto : Mexican Independence Day Cause to Celebrate : ‘Just because you are Latino, that doesn’t mean you can’t succeed. That’s what the 16th of September signifies. ‘ Taiyaba Husain, 14, after watching motivational skit at school

Mexican Independence Day will be celebrated throughout the county today with festivities ranging from folkloric dances to mariachi music, to commemorate Mexico’s fight for freedom from Spain.

For some, the celebrations provide an opportunity to reflect on cultural heritage. For others, the day symbolizes the fight to accomplish dreams.

“The day is to realize your heritage, your culture, and be proud because that’s what it all comes down to,” said Annie Segura, 15, a sophomore at Brea Olinda High School, where students were treated Thursday to motivational skits and poetry readings by the Chicano Poet Society.

Many of the 400 teen-agers who attended the hourlong presentation said they appreciated the day of remembrance, calling it inspirational.

On this day in 1810, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a parish priest in the village of Dolores, issued a call to arms to overthrow Spanish rule in Mexico. He rang the church bells, triggering a struggle for independence that ended in 1821 when Mexicans overthrew Spanish rule.

Javier A. Cortez, founder of the Chicano Poet Society, said the show at Brea Olinda High was meant to instill self-determination and point out that education is the key to success.

“The importance of Diez y Seis de Septiembre (16th of September) is that Mexicans got together and overcame an obstacle,” said Cortez, 26. “As we enter the 21st Century, we need to have that motivation to accomplish our dreams.”

Cortez and three other poets--Carlos de Rosas, Herbert Alamo and William Demello--put on skits about the plight of a Latino youth caught up in the gang lifestyle who turns his life around when he discovers he can strive for a higher education.

Taiyaba Husain, 14, a sophomore, said she learned a valuable lesson on Mexican culture watching the skits. “Just because you are Latino, that doesn’t mean you can’t succeed,” she said.

“That’s what the 16th of September signifies,” added Catalina Catano, 16.

Meanwhile, Madison Elementary School in Santa Ana also hosted a daylong celebration of Mexican Independence Day. The holiday is especially important on a campus where roughly 90% of the students are Latino, school officials said.

During the festivities, about 900 students heard traditional Mexican songs and watched fellow students in colorful costumes perform several foot-stomping, high-stepping dances.

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On a stage festooned with red, white and green Mexican flags and a banner proclaiming “Viva Mexico,” students sang their own version of “La Bamba” and danced as the audience clapped enthusiastically with the beat.

David Velasquez, 6, who was an instant hit with the crowd with a frenetic leg-twirling, hat-spinning dance, said he was excited to be part of the program.

“I learned a lot about Mexico and that they do a lot of dancing,” he said.

Later in the day, students and their parents feasted on traditional Mexican foods, including tamales, carne asada and tacos.

Principal Marti Baker said the festival was a valuable teaching tool for students. In preparation for the day’s festival, children learned about Mexico’s fight for independence from Spain and about Mexican culture.

In addition, many children got their first experience performing for a large crowd during the event. Confidence gained from that kind of performing usually spills over into other areas of schoolwork as well, Baker said.

“When they can get on stage like that, they can tackle anything,” she said.

Baker said the event was designed to let children and the community appreciate their roots.

“The most important thing is that we all feel proud of ourselves and our cultural heritage,” she said.

Colleges throughout the county today are putting on similar celebrations that will include folkloric dance performances and mariachi bands to commemorate the Mexican holiday.

Cal State Fullerton staged “El Grito,” a re-enactment of Hidalgo’s ringing of the bells, just after midnight this morning.

“It’s quite an inspiration to see our cultural history come alive,” Catano said.

Mexican Independence Day

Today commemorates the 184th anniversary of Mexico’s break from Spain. Although it took 11 years to defeat Spain, this date is considered the day that an independent Mexico was created.

* Revolutionaries: Two parish priests, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla and Jose Maria Morelos y Pavon, led two revolts that resulted in Mexico’s independence.

* Cry of sorrows: Instead of a morning sermon on Sept. 16, 1810, Father Hidalgo delivered a rousing call to arms, “El Grito” (Cry for Independence), calling for a new government and redistribution of land.

* The marches: Hidalgo led a group of Indians on a march toward Mexico City under the banner of the Mexican icon the Virgin of Guadalupe. Meanwhile, Morelos led guerrilla forces in the south.

* Executions: When Hidalgo was executed in 1811, Morelos assumed leadership until his execution in 1815.

* Second revolt: The same wealthy Spaniards who executed Morelos feared that Spain would acquiesce to demands for land redistribution under the liberal leadership of Agustin de Iturbide, and with the support of reactionary Spaniards declared Mexico independent in 1821.

* Empire overthrown: Agustin de Iturbide was proclaimed emperor in 1822, but the following year, unpaid troops overthrew the fiscally plagued empire and set up a republic with Guadalupe Victoria as its first president.

Source: Academic American Encyclopedia