Sheinbaum, the first woman to give the Cry of Independence in 200 years of tradition

“Long live Mexico!” is the cry that resonates with patriotic sentiment every September 15th. A tradition that began two centuries ago, but 2025 will be historic. For the first time, a woman president will wave the flag and deliver the speech from the National Palace.

Since the establishment of the Republic, the tradition of commemorating the beginning of the struggle for Mexican Independence has been led by a man, but this year, Claudia Sheinbaum will be in charge of alluding to the feat begun by Father Hidalgo.

The armed movement led by Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla to end the viceroyalty of New Spain began in the early morning of September 16, 1810.

History tells us that the priest called for the people’s uprising by ringing the bell of the Dolores parish church in Guanajuato.

Before the inhabitants, he gave a speech urging them to rise up in arms, cheering the Virgin of Guadalupe, an image he used as a banner to begin the struggle.

Agustín de Iturbide was named the first emperor of Mexico, but abdicated, was accused of treason, and was executed in 1824, the year in which Guadalupe Victoria assumed the executive branch, becoming the first president of the Republic.

From the beginning of his administration, the then president led a celebration on September 16 at the National Palace, but it wasn’t until 1840 that the tradition was accompanied by festivals and fireworks.

Although there is a precedent, on September 16, 1812, General Ignacio López Rayón commemorated the Cry of Independence in Huichapan, a town in the state of Hidalgo.

Claudia Sheinbaum assumed the presidency of Mexico in October 2024, an unprecedented event in national history.

The head of the federal executive branch has been the center of attention in moments that we have traditionally only witnessed with men: the presentation of the presidential sash, the State of the Union address, and now, the national celebrations.