California Culture

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California Fiestas Patrias Festivals and Celebrations

On September 16, 1810, criollo Father Miguel Hidalgo cried out to his parish in the small town of Dolores, MX against Spanish colonial rule. His grito rallied tens of thousands of people to fight and change Mexico. Often an integral part of the Fiestas Patrias is El Grito, or a shout out for independence with these words that you'll hear repeated (after each line, the crowd only has to say the word, Viva):
¡Mexicanos!
¡Vivan los héroes que nos dieron patria!
¡Víva Hidalgo!
¡Viva Morelos!
¡Viva Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez!
¡Viva Allende!

Celebrate California's Hispanic heritage with Fiestas Patrias and El Grito festivals and events. The Spanish phrase Fiestas Patrias means Patriotic Holidays. Celebrating the Mexico's Independence Day is one of the Hispanic community's most important festivals throughout the year in California.

From north to south, California's cities with large percentages of Hispanic populations are the biggest supporters of the the festival and places you're most likely to find the Mexican independence day traditions.

Most cities try to host events on the weekend closest to a celebrated independence day.


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