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Printer-Friendly ModeFestival to honor independence
Hispanic Heritage Month will be celebrated with event in Courtyard
September 12, 2005 —
SVSU will celebrate Mexico's independence and Hispanic Heritage Month on Friday from 6 to 10 p.m. in the Courtyard.
Festividad de Libertad: Hispanic Independence Festival will offer a number of different activities, such as authentic Mexican vendors who will be selling food items including nachos, tamales, burritos, rice, beans, tacos, etc.
Sigma Lambda Gamma will be hosting an arts and craft tent for the children. Children's dance group Xochiquetzal will perform a Mexican folkloric ballet. The band Generaciones will be providing live entertainment throughout the night. There will also be vendors selling Mexican trinkets, books, artwork, etc.
SVSU alum Roxanne Chantaca will be the MC for the night.
Immediately following the festival, Sigma Lambda Gamma will be hosting an outdoor dance with live music until 1:30 a.m. free of charge.
There will also be a reading of the Grito de Dolores (Cry of Dolores) Speech. Dr. Carlos Ramet, executive assistant to the President, will provide a brief history of the speech, which was first given by a priest named Miguel Hidalgo to inspire his followers and to call for a rebellion against the Spaniards. The speech will be presented in Spanish.
Contrary to most Americans' beliefs, Sept. 16 is Mexico's Independence Day, not Cinco de Mayo. Cinco de Mayo is the celebration of when the Mexican army defeated the French in 1862, not a celebration of Mexico's independence.
Sept. 15 is also the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month; this day marks the anniversary of independence for five Hispanic countries - Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
In addition, Chile achieved its independence on Sept. 18.
Spain ruled Mexico as part of the viceroyalty of New Spain for 300 years until Sept. 16, 1810, when the Mexicans first revolted. They won their independence in 1821.