Visitors to the personalities El Grito on the Plaza de Sonoma

Read the English version here.

People celebrating Mexico’s independence from Spain gather at Plaza Sonoma to say “Viva México!” and enjoy live music and spectacular dance performances.

The consul of the Mexican Embassy in San Francisco, Ana Luisa Vallejo, appointed the traditional “El Grito,” the revolucionario comunitario conmemorativo, who had been performing a ritual in Sonoma for more than a decade.

“El Grito” is the recreation of the lama with his weapons, realized by the priests Miguel Hidalgo and Costilla. Tocó la campana de la iglesia in the pueblo de Dolores for convocar a sus feligreses tomar las arms with the gobierno español in the madrugada of 16 de septiembre de 1810.

“It is a great privilege and an honorary representative of Mexico in the outside world,” Vallejo, who was appointed consul in July, told the Sonoma press. “I had to reckon with the gentleman who had to work hard to maintain the traditions and take on a community ceremony that taught Mexican culture.”

During the domino event, a celebration took place above the square, which included the celebrations of the Mes de la Herencia Hispana.

More than 200 people sat on the benches and in the offices of the Anfiteatro de la Plaza and were looked after by the dancers of the Ballet Folklórico Quetzalén.

A year ago, the celebration was organized by Vida Cultural Arts, a local organization funded by Angie Sánchez that aims to expand Latin American culture through community events.

“It is the first year that the consul has supported the event since he began organizing it,” said Sánchez. “It is a day to live together with the family and celebrate our culture and tradition.”

The Consulate of Mexico has suspended its participation in the 2020 ceremony due to COVID-19.

The celebration included a second scenario in the last days of the year, in which they presented the musical actors of Alex Borges and her Lealtad group, as well as the Banda La Solteca.

The staff offers a variety of foods, including tamales and churros, corn dogs and crepas dulces.

Vendors also include many products, including indigenous clothing and Día de los Muertos handicrafts.

You can contact the editor of La Prensa Sonoma, Raquel Issenberg, at [email protected]