Revolution Day or Aniversario de la Revolucion in Ajijic Lake Chapala
The Mexican Revolution (Revolucion Mexicana) was a major armed struggle that started November 20th, 1910 with an uprising led by Fransisco I. Madero against long time autocrat Porfirio Diaz. It is being celebrated today however.
Overt time the Revolution changed from a revolt against the establishment to a multi-sided civil war. After prolonged struggles, its representatives produced the Mexican Constitution of 1917.
The Revolution is generally considered to have lasted until 1920, although the country continued to have sporadic but comparatively minor outbreaks of warfare well into the 1920’s.
The Cristero War was the most significant relapse of bloodshed. The Revolution triggered the creation of the National Revolutionary Party in 1929 (renamed the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI in 1946). Under a variety of leaders the PRI held power until the general election of 2000.
Fiestas and celebrations are held throughout Mexico to mark this historic day.
What I remember the most is watching our children march in various parades to mark El Dia de la Revolucion. They were smartly dressed in their school uniforms and practiced marching for weeks before the big day. Every year we would drive to Chapala (making sure we parked our car this side of Chapala so we were able to leave after the parade) and enjoyed watching the school children march in the parade complete with bands and acrobatic feats.
For decades myths portrayed women as passive beings who contributed minimally to the Mexican Revolution. Women were, in fact, active participants in the Mexican Revolution and their involvement had an immense impact on shaping Mexican policy. They were involved in politics, created revolutionary newspapers, worked as teachers, nurses, they sold/smuggled arms and they even fought on the battle field.
Some of the most famous female participants in the Revolution were called Soldaderas or female fighters. It is no wonder that women, in many ways, run the Mexican society and are, indeed, the head of the households. An early Women’s Lib movement, if you will.
This holiday can cover many days. Some celebrate today which is the Dia festivo de la Revolucion. November 20th is the acutal Aniversario de la Revolucion and some will celebrate that day Monday, November 23rd.