Tonight, September 15th, towns and cities across Mexico will transform into vibrant hubs of red, white, and green as millions gather for El Grito de Independencia (The Cry of Independence).

El Grito is the passionate re-enactment of the historical moment in 1810 when Father Miguel Hidalgo rang his church bell in the town of Dolores and gave a fiery call to arms, igniting the Mexican War of Independence against Spanish rule. Tonight around 11:00 PM, political leaders—from mayors in small town plazas to the President at the National Palace in Mexico City—step out onto balconies to echo Hidalgo’s famous chant. The crowd thunders back with enthusiastic cries of “¡Viva México!”, followed by ringing bells, spectacular fireworks, and traditional mariachi music that carries late into the night.

While the biggest party happens on the eve of the holiday, September 16th is the official Independence Day. Contrary to a common international misconception, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico’s independence day—today is the true national holiday, marking the actual date the struggle for freedom began.

Attending a Grito ceremony is one of the most rewarding ways to experience Mexican culture firsthand while practicing your Spanish listening and speaking skills in a real-world setting.