MEXICAN CIVIC SOCIETY OF ILLINOIS HOST ITS ANNUAL EL GRITO FESTIVAL AT DALEY PLAZA
CELEBRATION TO FEATURE LIVE MUSIC, FOLKLORIC DANCERS AND MARIACHI’S
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: Daley Plaza will be converted into one of the largest Mexican
Independence celebrations in Chicago on Tuesday, September 15, 2015, hosted by the
Mexican Civic Society of Illinois, one of the oldest Mexican cultural organizations in Chicago.
Large crowds are expected to turn out at the annual El Grito de Independencia, which
celebrates Mexico’s independence from Spain in 1821.
The festival which starts at 5:30pm at Washington and Dearborn will feature a array of
folkloric performances including the traditional Mexican Mariachi’s, a special performance
by newly elected queen Tania Reyes along with local, national and international talent and
of course local elected officials.
El Grito
Every year, millions of Mexicans, Mexican Americans and fellow revelers from around the
world gather late the night before Mexican Independence Day (September 16) to join a
massive, synchronized call-and-response that dates back to 1910, the one hundred and fifth
anniversary of Mexican Independence
On September 16, 1810, criollo Father Miguel Hidalgo cried out to his parish in the small town
of Dolores. He cried out against French colonial rule, he cried out against the gachupín elite,
he cried out for Mexicans to rise up and take charge of their destiny. His grito eventually
rallied tens of thousands of people, mostly very poor Indians, to fight and change Mexico
forever.
Come down to Daley plaza, experience El Grito as the bell is rung and the famous words are
¡Mexicanos! ¡Vivan los héroes que nos dieron patria! ¡Víva Hidalgo! ¡Viva Morelos! ¡Viva
Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez! ¡Viva Allende! ¡Vivan Aldama y Matamoros! ¡Viva la
recited:
independencia nacional! ¡Viva México! ¡Viva México! ¡Viva México!