Under the cover of darkness one September night in 1810, a priest named Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla in the small Mexican town of Dolores rang a church bell, gathered together his still-sleepy parishioners and delivered a fiery speech now known as the"Grito of Dolores."More than two centuries later, people around the world celebrate"Dieciséis de Septiembre" as the day it all began.
The bash kicks off with mariachi performers from Burbank High School, followed later by national anthems and El Grito presented by Consulado de México and the grito contest, during which participants will wave the tricolor high as they deliver stirring cries honoring the sacrifice of Mexicans who died for their country's indepdence.
Dieciséis de Septiembre is just the beginning, though. Additional events are scheduled over the next four weeks for Hispanic Heritage Month at the Pearl.