Sacramento celebrates Mexican Independence Day

Sept. 16 is the day of Mexico’s biggest holiday, and Sacramento’s Mexican community came alive this weekend with a vibrant and culturally significant celebration.The Mexican Independence Day marks the country’s freedom from Spanish colonial rule.Sacramento recognized the important holiday with several celebrations across the area.The rich and colorful culture was on display throughout the city at various festivities. One such place was the Salsa Festival at Old Sacramento.The people behind Lucero’s are sharing their mother’s family recipe.”I just think about sharing our heritage with other people,” Christina Thomas said. “I think that’s important — keeping it alive in your family and being able to share it and having others experience it.”Traditional Mexican dance took center stage at the Dia de la Familia event at McClatchy Park.Eight-year-old Daniela Lozano took part in the baile folklorico, a dance highlight folk culture.”I want people to know Mexico is a beautiful place,” Lozano said. Leonardo Capello said he loves the food.”I like the bright colors and the dance,” Capello said. “Mexican people like to celebrate. It’s a very happy culture.”The World’s Worst Expo downtown moved its event to coincide with this day in history.”It means everything to me, reclaiming our culture and just being out here celebrating together,” Zeida Martinez said. “Community is what it’s all about. It means the world.”Martinez has a booth set up for her shop, The Honey Club.”It’s just beautiful to see our culture celebrated for what it has always been,” Martinez said. Children learn early in life what it means to be Mexican, so they can carry on the tradition for Mexican Independence Day celebrations to come.

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