It’s Mexican Independence Day! Celebrate In Sudbury On Sept. 24
Though Sept. 16 is the official date, Sudbury will be celebrating with a party of Sept. 24 that includes authentic mexican food and mariachi
It’s Mexican Independence Day and a community group in Sudbury is hoping you’ll celebrate with them on Saturday, Sept. 24 at the Polish Combatants Hall. Though they hoped to celebrate on the day, the pandemic made it tough to find a spot to party, so they moved it.
It’s the first event put on specifically by the Hispanic and Latin-American Community of Sudbury, and the first time that a Sudbury-based group will be celebrating the day.
That’s because there are more people from Mexico living here than ever before, said organizer Patricia Orozco.
Orozco is a lecturer at Laurentian University and has lived in Sudbury for 17 years. She told Sudbury.com the idea for the party came when she noticed that so many other Mexican, Latin, and Hispanic people had moved to Sudbury. “I wanted to have a place where we could all get together, to have a place to support our community.”
And with the Mexican Independence Day party, the group will be raising funds for the Sudbury Women’s Centre.
“We are here to help the community in the way they have helped us,” said Orozco.
Those who attend the party will find it a bit similar to the festivities on Canada Day, fund, food and a chance to share a love of one’s country and culture.
Mexican Independence Day celebrates independence from Spain. Mexico, then known as New Spain and ruled as a colony for more than 300 years, was ended with the words of a Catholic priest. On Sept. 16, 1810, In the town of Dolores, Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla
rang his church’s bell and delivered a speech now known as the Grito de Dolores (Cry of Dolores), demanding the end of Spanish rule. This started the brutal Mexican War of Independence, which lasted over a decade. On Aug. 24, 1821, Spain withdrew and officially recognized Mexico as an independent country.
Today, Father Costilla is known as the Father of Mexican Independence.
The celebration now held annually, and for the first time in Sudbury, will showcase everything wonderful about Mexican Culture.
An authentic Mexican dinner and non-alcoholic beverage will be served at 5 p.m. (For gluten-free/ vegan options please contact the organizers directly.) There will also be live Mexican music, including mariachi, and a DJ as well. Authentic cocktails and beer will be available at a cash bar, as will traditional street foods, both savory and sweet. There will also be an auction for visitors to bid on specially selected items.