What are we celebrating this week?
This week Mexico will celebrate an important holiday. It’s Mexican Independence Day! If you’ve been thinking that Mexican Independence Day is celebrated on May 5th, don’t worry, you are not alone. But surprise, it’s actually celebrated on the 16th of September! So here is your chance to learn a little bit more about Mexican Independence Day, read why you should be teaching your students about it this year, and catch a glimpse of a Mexican Independence Day activity you can do with your students.
Mexican Independence Day (El Día de la Independencia de Mexico) first began in 1810 when a Catholic priest, Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla made a big speech about the necessity of Mexico to fight for independence from Spain. This was the beginning of what became the fight for independence.
viva mexico!
Here in Mexico, it’s a huge day. It starts on the night of September 15th when the president reenacts Father Hidalgo’s speech. People all around Mexico gather in their town plazas and participate in “El Grito” which is when the president of Mexico leads the country in shouting “Viva Mexico!” Cue, massive parties all around Mexico.
The following day, there are parades everywhere, with school children marching in their traditional huipiles and adorned in red, green, and white. After the parade, families gather to eat the traditional soup of Mexico called pozole. This is a time to celebrate with family, take pride in Mexican heritage, and enjoy the culture, food, and traditions that Mexico has to offer.
talking about mexican independence day is important everywhere
I teach in Mexico, so naturally I will be spending Friday the 15th, and really this whole week, teaching about Mexican Independence. But even if you don’t teach in Mexico, you should take the time to do so too.
Other than the fact that it’s fun, why is it important to celebrate Mexican Independence Day with your students? There are obvious answers, such as the growing Mexican-American population in the United States. Or perhaps the need for culturally relevant activities in the classroom. But I believe that despite the recognition of the ethnic makeup of the United States, there is another more universal, important reason.
The story of Mexican Independence teaches kids the story of the underdog. Mexico wasn’t supposed to win the war against Spain. They were significantly outnumbered, unorganized, and unprepared. The Mexican soldiers didn’t exactly have a winning strategy. But they did it. They came together, united for a common purpose, and won their independence.
I think this story has a lot to teach children about the power of a group. It shows them, that just because you don’t have all the tools you need, or the right resources, ambition and hard work go a long way.
Another important reason to teach your students about Mexican Independence is because of the importance of them understanding what independence really means. When students are younger, you want them to recognize the ways that being independent is advantageous for themselves and their families. As students get older, it’s important that they understand why countries want independence. Why they want to be making their own decisions.
resources you can use
Keeping all this in mind, I created a Mexican Independence Day activity that teachers can use in the classroom to teach kids about this celebratory tradition and independence. If you are looking for a thorough school activity for Mexican Independence Day with different options of activities surrounding Mexican Independence Day you can check out my TPT activity here.
This activity for Mexican Independence Day is no prep, just print and go. It gives students several options for writing, reading, and drawing. It can be accommodated for different grades depending on what level you teach.
We want kids to start thinking about these big topics. In this activity we are asking students to consider what activities they do themselves that are independent. It is important for students to start thinking about this from an early age as they naturally become more independent.
So if you are looking for a way to teach about a fun Mexican holiday while building some independence in the classroom, be sure to check out my Mexican Independence Day activity!
I hope your September 16th is full of red, white, and green, and lots of delicious pozole!