El Pasoans help ring in Mexico's independence

By El Paso Times

Letty Camacho and her family could not travel across the U.S.-Mexico border to celebrate Mexico's Independence Day, but they were able to enjoy traditional Mexican music and food at a fiesta Monday in Downtown El Paso.

"We don't stop from being Mexican, and we celebrate however we can at events such as the Fiestas Patrias," Camacho said as mariachi music played in the background. "We can't go over there (to Mexico), so we should at least celebrate it here. We can't miss their festivities."

The Consul General of Mexico held its annual Fiestas Patrias late Monday at the San Jacinto Plaza. The event had been at the Chamizal National Memorial park in previous years, but officials said they wanted to have it at the Downtown plaza similar to the fiestas patrias celebrated in Mexico.

Diez y Seis de Septiembre is a commemoration of when Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla gave "el grito," or the cry, calling all Mexican people to initiate Mexico's independence from Spain in 1810, said Roberto Rodríguez Hernández, Consul General of Mexico.

"With the Grito de Dolores, every year we remember the initiation of the independence. We do it with a grito, remembering the heroes of that era," he said, saying at midnight on Sept. 15 Mexicans cry "Viva México" three times.

Escamilla and her husband, Holger Sood, were among hundreds of people at the fiesta. While standing in a long line to get a cup of corn, Escamilla said she was impressed with the good turnout.

"People are having fun," she said. "It wonderful just to be here, and just to eat something and drink something and listen to good music."

Among the performances were José Luis Quezada "El Charrito de Oro," Ballet Folklórico Paso del Norte, Natalia Baeza and others.

Stephanie Sanchez may be reached at ssanchez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6137.