On the afternoon of Tuesday, September 16, the warm and familiar atmosphere of the scent of fresh traditional dishes drifted through the dining room of El Portal restaurant in Pasadena transformed into a corner of Mexico. Outside, the late-summer light stretched across Colorado Boulevard, but inside, time seemed to bend. Abel Ramírez, the restaurant's owner and a steady guardian of culture, had once again transformed his dining patio into a living stage for one of Mexico's most important traditions: El Grito de Independencia, the symbolic event that marked Mexico's independence from Spain in 1810.
As plates of enchiladas, cochinita pibil, and panuchos yucatecos made their way to the tables, conversation softened and anticipation filled the air. Guests leaned forward as soprano Paty Luna stepped into the spotlight. Her voice rose with the U.S. national anthem, rich and trembling, filling the restaurant with both solemnity and pride. Eyes glistened. Some placed a hand over their heart; others simply closed their eyes, letting her notes wash over them. Then, the stage was given to leaders of the community.
Senator Sasha Renée-Perez took the microphone, her words carrying both pride and intimacy as she revealed that this date also marks her birthday. The applause came quickly, the room folding her into her embrace.
Mayor Victor Gordo followed, speaking from his heart Pasadena's own, took the microphone. “We are here to celebrate our commonality, to be in a free society and to have the opportunity of being successful in this country, in Mexico or everywhere!,” he said. He spoke with gratitude, recalling his journey as an immigrant boy who grew up, studied, and eventually earned the honor of serving as the city’s mayor. He called Pasadena the “center of the universe,” a line that drew smiles and nodes. His message was clear: freedom, opportunity, and community are not abstract ideals but lived experiences, built day by day. His words echoed the dual identity of many Mexican Americans, who celebrated independence twice, Mexico's birth as a nation, and the broader ideals of freedom that shaped the United States.
The most anticipated moment arrived when councilwoman María Mercedes Anaya, regidora of Poncitlán, Jalisco, raised the green, white, and red flag high, and her voice rang out: “Viva México!” The shout was contagious, responded by the crowd with energy, emotion, and pride. Immediately after, the Mexican national anthem was sung, closing the official act and opening the way for ancestral rhythms.
The Aztec troupe Yankuititl entered the space with drums adorned in feathers and shells, their steps pounding a rhythm that connected the celebration to centuries past and dance, their ceremony connecting the celebration to the deep roots of Mexico's pre Hispanic past. Children peeked wide-eyed from their chairs. Soon after, the Nahuatzen folkloric ballet directed by Juan Spino, swirled across the floor, skirts blossoming like flowers in motion, followed by the passionate notes of Mariachi Real del Oro. Laughter, music, and the clinking of glasses of the festive “Alcalde Margarita” kept the evening lively.
History, identity, and community came together under one roof. What began as a reflection on independence grew into a vibrant fiesta, rich with culture and camaraderie. At El Portal, El Grito was more than a reenactment. It was a reminder: heritage lives not only in textbooks or ceremonies, but in flavors, voices, and communities that come together to celebrate their roots.
History, identity, and community came together under one roof. What began as a reflection on independence grew into a vibrant fiesta, rich with culture and camaraderie. At El Portal, El Grito was more than a reenactment. It was a reminder: heritage lives not only in textbooks or ceremonies, but in flavors, voices, and communities that come together to celebrate their roots.