The Cry of Dolores
Grimly, Father Hidalgo, priest of the little Mexican community of
Dolores, tugged at the rope that rang the church bell. He was calling
the people to church earlier than usual on this Sunday morning.
It was September 15, 1810, and on this day, Father Hidalgo was going to
give a very different kind of sermon. He was going to call on the
Mexican people to rise up and free themselves from Spain.
The speech Father Hidalgo gave that morning became known as Grito de
Dolores, or “Cry of Dolores.” It was the beginning of years of war.
Father Hidalgo, who is often called the “Father of Mexican
Independence,” didn’t live to see an independent Mexico. He was killed
in 1811, but Mexico won its independence in 1821.
September 16, the day after Father Hidalgo gave the Cry of Dolores, is
celebrated as Mexico’s Independence Day. On the eve of Independence Day,
the president of Mexico repeats the Cry of Dolores. Then he rings the
same church bell that Father Hidalgo rang. Bells throughout Mexico ring
out in honor of a free Mexico.
