Mexico City, Mexico — Claudia Sheinbaum is set to make history today as the first woman to lead Mexico’s traditional Independence Day “Grito de Dolores” from the presidential balcony, a ceremony that has been exclusively male for more than a century.
Sheinbaum, who won a landslide victory in 2024 to become Mexico’s first female president, will ring the historic bell and wave the national flag in Mexico City’s Zócalo, recreating the 1810 call to rebellion made by Father Miguel Hidalgo in Dolores, Guanajuato. The event marks a symbolic milestone for gender equality in the country’s highest offices.
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“For the first time a woman will deliver the Grito. It’s quite novel,” Sheinbaum said last week when reflecting on the historic moment. Since assuming office on October 1, 2024, she has embraced the title “presidenta” and refers to herself as “comandanta” of the armed forces, often appearing in garments featuring colorful Indigenous embroidery — a style mirrored by military officials who address her accordingly.
Historians describe Sheinbaum’s role as both historic and symbolic. “It opens a space that was tacitly closed to women,” said Mexican historian Lorenzo Meyer, noting that her leadership reflects a broader acceptance that “gender doesn’t matter” in the country’s most important offices.
Ceremony and Traditions
Despite promising a simple ceremony, Sheinbaum — whose approval ratings consistently exceed 70% — has rehearsed the steps for the Grito, which she calls “emotional and fundamental.” She will receive the national flag from a military escort before calling out the traditional patriotic cheers, prompting the gathered crowd to respond with a resounding “¡Viva México!” The Zócalo, often wet from September rains, has historically seen thousands gather to participate in this ritual, which commemorates the start of Mexico’s independence movement.
Sheinbaum will also preside over the Independence Day military parade, which will pass through the capital’s historic center. The parade features a display of Mexico’s armed forces, highlighting both ceremonial tradition and the nation’s military capabilities.
Historical Significance of the Grito
The Grito tradition dates back to September 16, 1810, when Father Miguel Hidalgo rang a church bell in the town of Dolores and called for rebellion against Spanish colonial rule. He reportedly shouted, “Long live the Virgin of Guadalupe! Long live Ferdinand VII, and death to bad government!” This declaration sparked a war that eventually led to Mexico’s independence in 1821.
While widely accepted as the origin of the ritual, historians note that the celebration’s formalization has evolved over time. Lorenzo Meyer points out that Emperor Maximilian of Habsburg, who ruled Mexico from 1864 to 1867, promoted commemorations of the Grito, which were later institutionalized by President Porfirio Díaz in 1896. Since then, the bell has been rung by successive Mexican presidents from the national palace balcony, a practice Sheinbaum now continues as the country’s first female leader.
Symbolism and Gender Progress
For many Mexicans, Sheinbaum’s role represents a historic breaking of gender barriers. Traditionally, the ceremony has been a male-dominated political stage, with presidents and male officials symbolizing authority and national leadership. Her leadership is seen as a step toward gender equality in a country where women have long fought for representation at the highest political levels.
“She is redefining the image of leadership in Mexico,” Meyer said. “The fact that a woman now stands at the center of one of the nation’s most significant rituals sends a powerful message about gender and political inclusion.”
As the nation celebrates its 50th Independence Day under a female president for the first time, thousands are expected to witness the event live, waving flags, cheering “¡Viva México!” and marking a historic moment in Mexico’s ongoing journey toward gender parity in political life.
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