Mexico - Let's celebrate!

Since my arrival, Mexico has been in full party mode. Any excuse is good enough to celebrate the joy of life. Carnival, Day of the Dead, Cinco de Mayo...

In September, it was the "Beginning of the War of Independence" celebration, which lasted from 1810 to 1821, and at the end of which Mexico became independent from Spain.

The Beginning of the Revolution

Today is the "Beginning of the Revolution" celebration. A revolution that began on November 20, 1910, and lasted 10 years.

It all started when Francisco Madero launched an appeal against the dictatorship, which favored large landowners and foreign investors at the expense of peasants and workers.

In 1917, a new Constitution established agrarian reform, workers' rights, the nationalization of mineral resources, and limited the power of the Church. Although violence persisted until 1920, this revolution remains one of the first major social revolutions of the 20th century.

All these events are a source of great pride for Mexicans because they helped shape their country.

So, let's celebrate! Valle de Bravo, where I currently live, has about 60,000 inhabitants, and... there must be 100,000 of them celebrating. The streets and balconies are full. The parade started around 8 a.m. this morning and will end around noon... just in time to enjoy one of the many delicious specialties from the region, and from other Mexican states, offered by street vendors.

Everyone is here. All the schools are participating in the parade and many people are in costume to pay tribute to the heroes of the revolution.

Among these heroes, we recognize some names that have endured through the century: Pancho Villa, Zapata, Madero...

credit: author unknown, José Doroteo Arango Arámbula, better known as Pancho Villa

credit: author unknown, Emiliano Zapata Salazar

credit: author unknown, Francisco Ignacio Madero González

And what about women

Mexican women were not to be outdone when it came to serving their country during the Revolution. Many worked in the army, both in logistical support and in combat.

Others became even more deeply involved. Like Petra Herrera who fought as a man before creating her own brigade.

credit: author unknown

Ángela Jiménez, an explosives expert who fought under a male identity before revealing her true identity, while receiving the rank of lieutenant.

credit: author unknown

Hermila Galindo played a significant political and feminist role, organizing the first Feminist Congress of Yucatán in 1916. A pioneer of Mexican feminism, she championed issues such as sex education in schools, women's suffrage, and divorce. She was one of the first feminists to publicly argue that Catholicism in Mexico hindered their goals. She was also the first Mexican woman to run for office.

credit: author unknown

And me in all this?

I'm letting my joy at being in Mexico burst forth, and I'm celebrating too. I'm fully enjoying all these beautiful moments I've been given, appreciating every detail. Every day, I'm pleasantly surprised by this Mexico that I'm discovering at my own pace, and I'm so glad I "took the plunge."