At Sunday’s El Grito celebration, Mexico’s General Consul came from San Jose to lead the crowd in a ceremony honoring those who fought for independence. Joe Szydlowski, The Californian (Photo: Vernon McKnight/Special to the Californian) Tens of thousands packed the Alisal Sunday to celebrate Mexico’s independence with plenty of food, music, performers and more.
"Viva México!" Mexican Consul General Juan Manuel Calderon Jaimes called out in a ceremony paying tribute to El Grito, the Cry of Dolores.
A two-day event, El Grito began with a parade in Salinas on Saturday and continued Sunday, Mexico’s official Independence Day.
Sunday also included a formal ceremony with Jaimes presenting the Mexican flag with a color guard and Mexico’s national anthem, which ended with cheers.
It was the first El Grito celebration in Salinas that Jaimes, with the Mexican Consul in San Jose, had attended, he said.
Jaimes also repeated the chant that Mexico’s president annually performs.
It honors the call to arms and bell-ringing (El Grito) that started the Mexican War of Independence from Spain 208 years ago, Jaimes said.
The ceremony also included a special recognition of those lost on Sept. 11 and participation from the nearby Defense Language Institute in Monterey. The Cultural Committee of Salinas (Comite Cultural De Salinas) hosted its annual El Grito Festival on the corner of East Alisal Street and South Madeira Avenue to celebrate Mexican Independence Day on Sunday, September 16, 2018 in Salinas, Calif. (Photo: Vernon McKnight/Special to the Californian) Mexican independence is celebrated over two days: The first, El Grito, or the shout, refers to a Mexican priest whose rallying cry started the war for independence. The second day is the official Independence Day.Salinas’ celebration has taken place for many years, said Gloria De La Rosa, a Salinas council woman who represents part of the Alisal."For Mexico, this is a […]
Read the full story: Salinas celebrates Mexico’s Independence Day