Independence Day in Mexico commemorates the start of Mexico's struggle for independence from Spanish rule in 1810. It is one of Mexico's most important and festive national holidays, symbolizing the country's enduring spirit of liberty and independence.

When is Independence Day?

Independence Day in Mexico is celebrated on September 16.

The following is the list of Independence Day from 2020 to 2049.

The History of Independence Day?

For nearly 300 years, Mexico, then known as New Spain, was under Spanish colonial rule after the conquest led by Hernán Cortés in 1521. By the late 18th and early 19th centuries, growing discontent spread among creoles (Mexicans of Spanish descent born in the Americas), indigenous peoples, and mestizos.

Social inequality, economic hardship and limited opportunities under Spanish rule fueled a desire for self-government and independence. Influenced by the Enlightenment, the American Revolution (1776), and the French Revolution (1789), reform-minded leaders in New Spain began to envision freedom from colonial control.

The spark for independence came on the night of September 15–16, 1810, in the small town of Dolores (now Dolores Hidalgo), in the state of Guanajuato. Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a parish priest and advocate for social justice, rang the church bell in the early hours of September 16 and delivered his historic speech, now known as the "Cry of Dolores". This moment marked the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence.

The war was long and brutal, lasting 11 years, with shifting alliances and regional uprisings. Although Father Hidalgo was captured and executed in 1811, his call for freedom continued to inspire others. José María Morelos later formalized the fight for independence, declaring Mexico's sovereignty in 1813.

The struggle finally ended with the Treaty of Córdoba, signed on August 24, 1821, recognizing Mexico's independence from Spain. The Army of the Three Guarantees triumphantly entered Mexico City on September 27, 1821. While independence was achieved, the years that followed brought new challenges as Mexico sought to define its identity and government.

The first official Independence Day celebrations took place in 1825, honoring Father Hidalgo and the heroes of the revolution. Although the war ended in 1821, September 16, the day of the Grito de Dolores, was chosen as Mexico's national holiday, symbolizing the start of the movement rather than its conclusion.