National Guacamole Day / Mexican Independence Day

National Guacamole Day

September 16

First known as ahuacate, the origins of avocado can be traced back to 500 BCE. It was cultivated in Mexico, Central, and North America. Spaniards get the credit for discovering Guacamole from an Aztec sauce called ahuaca-molli; molli was the Nahautl word for “something mashed or pureed.” In the early 20th century, avocado was known as “Alligator Pear’ due to its bumpy green skin. There are over 450 varieties of avocado grown around the world, but the Hass is the most popular. Rudolph Hass – a postal worker from California – owns the patent for the seedling since 1935. California is known as the ‘King of Avocado’ in the United States and accounts for over 90% of avocado production in the country.

Mexican Independence Day

September 16

In the early 1500s, Spain took control of Mexico and renamed it New Spain. For the next 300 years, the Mexican people were forced to labor in mines and on farms for the Spaniards. Cinco de Mayo, the date celebrating the victory of the Mexican people over Spain at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, is on May 5th. September 15th is a reenactment of El Grito de Dolores (The Cry of Dolores). September 16th is then a grand celebration for Dia de la Independencia similar to the 4th of July in the United States. The man who led the Mexican war for independence was a priest (Don Miguel Gregorio Antonio Ignacio Hidalgo-Costilla y Gallaga Mandarte Villaseñor) or more commonly known as Father Hidalgo. He gave El Grito de Dolores at his church to his congregation, signaling the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence. The Spanish government was quickly killing off revolutionaries, so Father Hidalgo moved the date of the start of the revolt up to September 16th. Within the first year, Father Hidalgo was captured and killed, but the war continued for the next 11 years to a victorious conclusion for the Mexicans.

Today’s Birthdays of Note….

B.B. King – Singer & Guitarist – born in Itta Bena, Mississippi

David Copperfield – Magician – born in Metuchen, New Jersey

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