Mexican Independence Day - September 16

Cinco de Mayo (i.e. May 5, 1862) - you know, the day when the Mexican army routed the French back when routing the French was relatively unusual - is regarded by many as Mexico's Fourth of July.

Mexico's real declaration of independence from Spain, however, was stated on September 16, 1810 by Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a pastor in the town of Dolores, in the state of Guanajuato. Hidalgo and his colleagues proclaimed the rebellion in the eloquent "el Grito de Dolores" (the cry of Dolores). While bitter fighting remained until 1821, the "el Grito de Dolores" remains one of mankind's most eloquent statements of human rights and the right of a people to choose their own destiny.