Readers’ Forum

Two dozen independence days
By Kennedy Poyser July 4, 2008 San Miguel de Allende

San Miguel is so diverse that the city could host two dozen international independence days throughout the year. Certainly El Grito late in the night on September 15 in the Jardín is one of the more enthusiastic 200-year-old parties you’re ever likely to attend.

The high spirits, fireworks and flag-waving rival any Fourth of July celebration in a US city.

Most Central Americans can join the El Grito throngs here on September 15. Five countries won independence from Spain on that date in 1821. Ferdinand VII had just recovered the Spanish throne, the Napoleonic Wars had drained the treasury and troops being sent to reinforce the New World colonies revolted in 1820 in Cadiz. The king threw in the towel.

Visitors from Belize have to wait a few days, until September 21, to mull over the departure of the British in 1981. Panamanians could combine their November 28, 1821, date with Thanksgiving, if inclined toward US holidays. They also observe the November 3, 1903, breakaway from Colombia.

The Spanish experienced the domino theory firsthand—once they start to fall, all the dominoes come down in a wave. Ecuador was first, with an August 10, 1809 declaration, though all conspirators were later executed (a tactic familiar to central Mexico). They finally achieved independence in 1824.

Spain received sad news for years after. Colombia broke away in 1810 and a priest started trouble in Mexico. The next year, Paraguay and Venezuela left the fold. The dominoes accelerated in 1816 with Argentina, then Chile, 1818; Peru, 1821; Brazil, 1822; and Bolivia, 1825. Uruguay also won independence in 1825, but from Brazil.

Venezuelans can shoehorn their July 5 holiday with the US, Canada and Argentina on July 9. Colombia has two dates, July 20 and August 7, then Peru slips in with July 28.

Bolivia is August 6, then Ecuador follows on August 10, though they may already have partied on May 24. Uruguay resigned from Brazil on August 25. The Peninsular Wars weakened Portugal, too, so they lost Brazil on September 7.

Chileans have to wait until February 12; Paraguayans to May 15 of next year.

Guyana became a republic February 23, 1970, after the British granted sovereignty in 1966. Suriname cordially broke away from the Netherlands on November 25, 1975.

French Guiana is the only South American country not to declare independence. It became a Department of France in 1946 and is now a member of the European Union, the largest part outside Europe. Its currency is the euro and its economy mixes the old with the new—fishing and the Guiana Space Center at Kourou.

British Falkland Islanders celebrate Liberation Day from their Argentine neighbors on June 14, 1982.

For the Americans in town, Democrats Abroad is hosting a Fourth of July party, 1–3pm at Los Milagros restaurant. We all know it should be a picnic with fireworks, but expats must accommodate themselves to adversity.

The Canadians could have celebrated their national birthday on Tuesday, July 1, with a barbecue, concert, fireworks, or just a pub crawl. In 1867, four provinces became the Dominion of Canada, but some measure of British political influence continued until 1982.

Australia Day commemorates the founding of the country when the British First Fleet arrived in Port Jackson (later Sydney) on January 26, 1788, to start a penal colony. It’s an anniversary with parades, barbies and fireworks, but not really an independence day, since Australia drifted away from the UK so slowly no one thought to make a holiday of it.

French sanmiguelenses still have over a week to set up something for Bastille Day on Monday, July 14. Every single village in France has a dance, with champagne, fireworks, picnics and parties to celebrate the fall of the hated prison in 1789 and the start of the revolution.

The 160 Germans living here probably will offer toasts on October 3 to their fellow citizens who pulled down the Berlin Wall in 1990.

The Ukrainian colony here is admittedly small (one of the four produces Atención’s “Que Pasa”), but they have a great party to look forward to if they can get to Kiev on August 24, the date in 1991 when they politely tossed out the Soviets.

Another small but influential minority (perhaps of one) may have celebrated March 2 for the 1956 independence of Morocco from France and Spain.

Kennedy Poyser plans to celebrate all two dozen independence days, in the spirit of international fellowship.