From now on I think I'll just write out the entry titles like that. lol It's already almost 3 in the morning in Japan and that means it's already the 17th there, but the 16th here still. So yeah...
Last night was the celebrations for Mexico's 200th Birthday! Technically their Independence Day is on the 16th of September. But, the country has it's celebrations, parades, etc.. the day before leading up to the President of Mexico recreating the scene Miguel Hidalgo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miguel_Hidalgo) shouted to the Mexican people in 1810 at midnight. I was watching on TV from 9:00pm - 12:30am. It was by far the best celebration I had seen in Mexico so far and no doubt it's because it's their Bicentennial. The parade showcased the land's beautiful history all the way back to the time of the Native Aztecs, to when the Europeans came and ruined everything conquered Mexico, and so on. So many interesting floats and displays, too. There were beautiful ladies dancing, dancing skeletons, and a huge float for Quetzalcoahuatl. Some viewers were confused and thought Quetzal was actually a Chinese dragon and it really did resemble the ones the Chinese use in their celebrations.
I'll post some of my favorite pictures I saw on esmas.com
This is the Aztec god, Quetzalcohuatl. He was considered by the Aztecs to be the creator of mankind.
The Aztec Calendar. I LOVE and try to collect anything with this design.
This display was made to resemble the headdress of Aztec leader, Moctezuma.
Aztec legend says that their gods told them to build a city where they would see an eagle standing on a cactus with a serpent in its mouth. Hence the reason why that image is on Mexico's flag. ;) Also included is the landscape of Mexico with it's green fields and volcanoes.
The Angel of Independence. This column was used back in 1910 to celebrate the country's first 100 years.
Effigies of soldiers from the Mexican Revolution.
And this is my favorite one and I saved it for last. Mexican dancers did all kinds of amazing (and painful looking) pictures with their bodies and their final image was this!
So that's that! I have some more writing to do, but I have to leave in a bit. I'll just write another entry later. ^^ I hope you enjoy the pics!
Been about a week since I updated this. Well, that last tropical storm came and went with no damage done to this area. Thank God all went well! I slept through the wind and rain and when I woke up you couldn't even tell anything had happened since the sun was already drying up the roads. BUT apparently there's another tropical system that could be making it's way towards here at the end of the week. What the hell is up with these things being attracted to my town?! Hopefully it doesn't. ヽ(`Д´)ノ
El dieciséis de septiembre is this week, Mexico's Independence Day. Mexico turns 200 this year. YAY! A lot of cities in Mexico are minimalizing or canceling their celebrations as a result of all the violence that has been happening over there. That's such a shame that had to be done. :( Since my town is considered a "border town" we often do the Mexican celebrations here, too. I'm not dumb enough to go out anywhere, however. lol I'll just stay in and watch Felipe Calderon shout out "El Grito de Dolores" as tradition goes. The tradition is on every September 16th at midnight, the president of Mexico shouts out the same grito, or "cry" as Miguel Hidalgo. Hidalgo is considered the Father of Mexico. I must confess I get moved to tears whenever I see it on TV. I can't help it! But yeah. I'll just cook a Mexican dinner as usual on that day to celebrate. ^_^
This is from last year's celebration:
And this is the text of what the President is shouting from Spanish to English: Mexicans! Long Live the Heroes that gave us our Fatherland! Long Live Hidalgo! Long Live Morelos! Long Live Josefa Ortiz de Dominguez! Long Live Allende! Long Live Aldama and Matamoros! Long Live National Independence! Long Live the Independence Bicentennial! Long Love the Centennial of the Revolution! Long Live Mexico! Long Live Mexico! Long Live Mexico!
Okay, so I guess I gave a history lesson today. haha. Really when it comes to any kind of history or traditions I love hearing about all kinds. I guess that's why I feel like talking about something I'm proud of. ≧(´▽｀)≦
A lot of cities in Mexico are minimalizing or canceling their celebrations as a result of all the violence that has been happening over there. That's such a shame that had to be done. :( Since my town is considered a "border town" we often do the Mexican celebrations here, too. I'm not dumb enough to go out anywhere, however. lol I'll just stay in and watch Felipe Calderon shout out "El Grito de Dolores" as tradition goes. The tradition is on every September 16th at midnight, the president of Mexico shouts out the same grito, or "cry" as Miguel Hidalgo. Hidalgo is considered the Father of Mexico. I must confess I get moved to tears whenever I see it on TV. 
I can't help it! But yeah. I'll just cook a Mexican dinner as usual on that day to celebrate. ^_^