On Monday, September 15, the Embassy of Mexico in Prague marked the 215th anniversary of Mexico’s independence with a festive cultural evening. Ambassador Berenice Díaz Ceballos welcomed members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of the Czech government, the Mexican community in Prague, and numerous friends of Mexico from the spheres of culture and business.

The event took place in the elegant concert hall of the Prague Conservatory in Rejdiště 1. Before the concert, guests enjoyed a standing reception with drinks and Mexican-inspired finger food, creating an atmosphere of friendship and dialogue.

A Concert Across Centuries

The highlight of the evening was the concert “Sounds of Mexico: From Indigenous and Afro-Mexican Roots to European Syncretism and the Present Day”, performed by world-renowned Mexican musicians Horacio Franco and Daniel Ortega. Their program presented a musical journey through the diverse traditions of Mexico, starting with pre-Columbian indigenous rhythms, continuing with Afro-Mexican influences and baroque compositions shaped by European syncretism, and ending with contemporary interpretations.

The audience responded with enthusiastic applause, clearly touched by the depth and variety of the performance. The concert underscored how culture and music can build bridges between nations.

Official Speeches

On behalf of the Czech government, Deputy Foreign Minister Jiří Kozák gave a speech highlighting the close relations between the Czech Republic and Mexico, emphasizing economic cooperation, cultural exchange, and shared values of democracy and friendship.

Ambassador Berenice Díaz Ceballos addressed the guests with reflections on Mexico’s long road to independence. She reminded the audience that the national holiday not only commemorates a historic struggle for freedom but also serves as a living symbol of unity, resilience, and identity.

The History of Mexico’s Independence Day

Mexico’s National Day of Independence is celebrated every year on September 15–16 and is one of the most significant events in the country’s calendar. Unlike some nations that celebrate the actual signing of independence documents, Mexico commemorates the beginning of the struggle—the moment when a cry for freedom first echoed through the land.

For three centuries, Mexico was the core of the Viceroyalty of New Spain, one of the most valuable territories of the Spanish Empire. Wealth flowed from its mines and fields, yet inequality was stark: Spanish-born elites controlled government and commerce, while criollos, mestizos, indigenous people, and Africans faced systemic discrimination and burdens.

In the early hours of September 16, 1810, parish priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla rang the bell of his church in Dolores (today Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato) and delivered the “Grito de Dolores.” He urged his followers to rise against Spanish oppression, abolish injustice, and fight for land and freedom.

Though Hidalgo was executed in 1811, his cry ignited an eleven-year struggle that would reshape the continent.

Leaders such as José María Morelos, Vicente Guerrero, and Guadalupe Victoria carried the cause forward, despite defeats and setbacks. Finally, in 1821, the independence movement triumphed when royalist general Agustín de Iturbide allied with the insurgents, leading to the proclamation of the Plan of Iguala. On September 27, 1821, the Army of the Three Guarantees entered Mexico City, and the Spanish colonial era ended.

Mexico’s independence is officially marked on September 16, in honor of Hidalgo’s cry rather than the date of final victory. Every year, on the night of September 15, the President of Mexico rings the historic bell in the National Palace of Mexico City and proclaims “¡Viva México! ¡Viva la Independencia!” before a vast crowd. This tradition, known as El Grito de Independencia, is repeated in every city and town across Mexico, uniting the people in a shared remembrance.

Today, the holiday is more than a commemoration of the past—it is a reaffirmation of national pride, cultural diversity, and democratic values. Festivals, parades, concerts, and fireworks across Mexico and in communities abroad, such as Prague, remind the world of the enduring significance of that call for freedom 215 years ago.

Mexico and the Czech Republic: Friendship in Focus

The Prague celebration brought history and culture together in a unique way. Through speeches, music, and shared moments, the event demonstrated that Mexico’s story of independence continues to inspire dialogue and friendship far beyond Latin America.

In the heart of Europe, the sounds of Mexico echoed not only as a memory of the past but also as a vibrant bridge into the future.

IMG_4265