On September 14th through the 15th, the Historic District in Downtown Santa Ana hosted Fiestas Patrias to celebrate Mexican Independence Day. This two-day event featured the value of community within Mexican culture, while highlighting the pride that people have for their heritage. On Saturday the 14th, families could come and enjoy delicious food from various vendors, live music, and cultural exhibits. On Sunday the 15th, families came together to watch a parade and hold the traditional “El Grito” Ceremony.
Saturday night was more of the party aspect of the event, highlighting the different foods, music, and cultural activities the celebration had to offer. Many different vendors came out to sell their dishes, from street hot dogs to carne asada fries, and much more. Some of the more popular vendors included the Northgate Market, Tacos El Gringo, and Perla Mexican Cuisine.
Families could also enjoy live music which varied from mariachi music to banda and everything in between. The more popular performances of the night were Mariachi los Reyes, Grupo Decisión Efectiva, and Larry Hernandez. The live music brought large crowds together to sing and dance along to their favorite songs and the songs they grew up with. Along with the live music, many ballet folklorico academies performed at this event as well, impressing the crowds with their beautiful costumes and their impressive footwork. The dance teams that performed on Saturday night were Ballet Folklorico Renacimiento and Ballet Folklorico Nueva Generación.
Finally, families could go to multiple booths to engage in activities that taught the youth more about their Mexican culture. Some of these activities included temporary tattoos with sayings such as “Viva México!” and “Fiesta,” an interactive board entitled “¿De donde eres en México?” which encouraged parents to talk to their children about the parts of Mexico their families are from, and many booths from the city of Santa Ana who gave out brochures about the event and the Hispanic-owned businesses they would feature.
Sunday morning featured more traditional events, such as the Fiestas Patrias parade and the “El Grito” Ceremony. The day began with a beautiful parade that included various cars, floats, and performances to celebrate Mexican Independence. The parade lasted two hours and brought people together to celebrate the unique Mexican culture and customs. The celebration would end with the “El Grito” Ceremony, also referred to as “El Grito de Independencia.” In this tradition, Mexican families come together and let out a synchronized yell, or grito, that honors the call to arms on the eve of Mexican Independence Day. This tradition dates back to 1810 and has become a staple of Mexican Independence Day celebrations, as it celebrates the anniversary of the fight for Mexican Independence.
Overall, the Fiestas Patrias event was very successful in bringing families together to celebrate their Mexican heritage. It highlighted the sense of community and unity that is valued in Mexican culture, and allowed children to learn more about where their families come from.
