To Yell with Mexico

 Despite a common misconception, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day. That would be September 16, anniversary of 'The Cry of Dolores', the announcement of the Mexican independence revolution against Spain.

The Cry ('El Grito') was delivered in the town of Dolores, Guanajuato, by a Catholic priest named Miguel Hidalgo de Costilla. Although, no historian is exactly sure what Hidalgo said as no records were kept.

To commemorate this historic event, at around 11PM the night before Mexicans gather in their local plazas and yell patriotic things. Viva Mexico! Viva la Republica! Viva independencia! are popular.  There are fireworks and a fair amount of drinking, like all good national festivals,