On the night of September 15th, 2025, President Claudia Sheinbaum presided over her first Grito ceremony as President of Mexico.
Mexican Independence Day is September 16th, but really it starts on September 15th.
On the night of September 15th, a ceremony is held in the Zocalo Plaza in Mexico City, and in state capitols and city halls throughout the country.
The ceremony is called “El Grito”, the “shout” or “cry”, commemorating the Grito of Miguel Hidalgo in 1810 which publicly initiated a movement which eventually became a movement for the independence of Mexico.
In the ceremony in the Zocalo, the president comes out on to a balcony of the Palacio Nacional and rings a bell (similar to the Liberty Bell in the U.S.) after shouting a series of Vivas, “Viva” meaning “Long Live…” to commemorate Mexican historical figures.
Then he (now she) rings the bell a lot and waves the flag, and the national anthem is sung.
In the state capitols and cities, the ceremony is presided over by the governor or mayor.
The next day, on the 16th, there is a military parade.
So at 11 p.m. on September 15th, Claudia Sheinbaum, who took office October 1st, 2024, presided over her first Grito as Presidenta.
Source: Government of Mexico
For a report of last year’s Grito in the Zocalo, click here.