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This Month in Puerto

Friday 3
Election of Miss America
This event, to select the young woman who will represent Puerto and sing the national anthem during this month's patriotic civic and cultural events, is the official inauguration of the Month of the Nation.

It's not a beauty contest: participants must be students at one of the local high schools or junior colleges, they must demonstrate a knowledge of Mexican history and will be judged on how well they sing the national anthem. No easy task!
7 p.m. Town Hall Esplanade

[nadia revolucionista] Saturday 4
Nadia Yvonne Concert
The TV Azteca reality show "The Academy", now in its third season, has brought national stardom to the handful of winners of this wanna-be-a-star contest. Nadia, the pride of Oaxaca, was a runner up, but enormously popular, particularly in her home state. Tickets are $100 in advance or $150 the night of the show.
10 p.m. Town Hall

Sunday 5
Art Garden Classes
The Arco artists' collective will initiate a program of weekly plastic arts workshops at 11 a.m. at El Idilio Park (First St. just off Av. Oaxaca). Classes are free and will be offered from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Sunday through March. For more info: Galeria Diana, Tel: 582-0880

Monday 6 - Wed 8
Fiesta of the Birth of the Holy Virgin
A traditional saint's day fiesta in many communities, most named Santa María, among them: Sta. María Colotepec. Activities include the traditional calenda parade with brass band and huge papier-mache puppets, the castillo fireworks display, rodeos (jaripeos), sports contests and dances.

Monday 13
Commemoration of the Heroic Children of Chapultepec
The young cadets from the military academy in Chapultepec Castle are remembered on this day, the 157th anniversary of their death in the defense of Mexico City against the invading U.S. forces.

(See more on the Niños de Chapultepec in our story on Patriotic September)

A flag-raising ceremony takes place at 7 a.m. and a civic ceremony eulogizing the national heroes begins at 9 a.m. An honor guard comprised of students from various local schools and colleges holds vigil throughout the day at the monument to the Heroic Children located in the Town Hall Plaza
6:30 p.m. Traditional Calenda parade to kick off the Independence Day holidays
8 p.m. Social Cultural Program performances featuring local primary school students.

Tuesday 14
Social Cultural Program
featuring folkloric performances by two local primary schools.
7 p.m. Town Hall Esplanade

Wednesday 15
Ceremony of the Cry for Independence
Throughout Mexico, on this night before Independence Day, people gather at the local government building to watch music and dance performances, listen to speeches and the traditional ceremony commemorating the Cry of Dolores, el Grito de Dolores, which launched the struggle for freedom from Spain.

It was Santa Ana who initiated the reenactment of El Grito in 1853. But we probably have Don Porfirio Díaz to thank for establishing the event on Sept. 15 -- which happened to be his birthday -- at the glittering ceremony in 1910 marking the centenary of the Independence movement.

According to the historical record, Father Hidalgo called for Death to the Spaniards! Long Live the Virgin of Guadalupe! But, today, the exhortation has since been secularized; today the head of government invokes the following

Mexicans, long live Mexico; Long live Independence; Long live Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla; Long live José María Morelos y Pavon; Long live all the heroes who gave us our country and our freedom. Long live Mexico! Long live Mexico! Long live Mexico!
After the speeches are over, bells are rung and the fireworks are launched into the skies, it's time to dance into the wee hours.
El Grito Activities in Puerto:
7 a.m. Flag Raising Ceremony
5. p.m. Band Concert
6:30 p.m. Cultural Event featuring the Mariachi Azoyu from Guerrero
10 p.m. Grito Ceremony
11:30 p.m. Dance with Mariachis and the Perla del Sureste Band
All events are free and take place at the Town Hall Esplanade.

[dia della independencia] Thursday 16
Independence Day
194th anniversary of the birth of the movement for independence from Spain. A national holiday; banks, government offices and some businesses will be closed. Many people will take a long four-day weekend. So there will lots of activities planned, such as rodeos, dances, special dinners, which we were unable to include at press time.
Official Program in Puerto:
8 a.m. Civic Ceremony
8:30 a.m. Independence Day Parade
The army, civic groups and every school and college in town participate. The parade marches from the Town Hall Esplanade up 3rd Poniente street to 8th Norte, then down Av. Oaxaca
5 p.m. Band Concert
6 p.m. Flag Lowering Ceremony
7:30 p.m. Greased Pole Contest. Who can reach the prizes hung at the top.
7 p.m. Social Cultural Program featuring groups from local higher education institutions.
10 p.m. Dance with the Perla del Sureste Band and Sonido Vikingo.

Wednesday 22
Autumn Begins at 11:30 a.m.

Mon 27 - Wed 29
Feast of St. Michael
Annual Fair in Puerto's colonia San Miguel, as well as many other communities named for the Archangel. You can enjoy the usual complement of parades, fireworks, dancing and rodeos. Further details unavailable at press time.

Tuesday 28 - Sun 2
Central Surf Longboard Tube Riding Contest
World class longboarding returns to Puerto with the 2004 edition of this classic contests that pits the skills of the world's best prosurfers against the capricious surf of Zicatela Beach.
Competition begins at 7 a.m. (See Contest program)

Read This Month's Feature Articles:
Patriotic September
News
Central Surf Longboard Tube Riding Contest


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