Pozole, the most famous stew of the Fiestas Patrias in México

The national holidays of Mexico are more than the ‘Cry of Independence’ on September 15 that commemorates its independence. There is also the oozing smell and flavor of pozole, the most popular dish of corn and pork on the tables this time of the year.

Traditional Mexican cuisine, pozole is a broth with grains of corn and pork, although it can be prepared with chicken, and a garnish of lettuce, onion, radishes and oregano, which is eaten with tostadas and the option of spicy sauces.

Their preparation can have the pot over high heat for a couple of hours, time for the family to prepare the environment with Mexican mariachi music and make toasts with tequila and mezcal, alcoholic beverages produced with Mexican agaves.

Juanita, a 73-year-old grandmother, said that this year she allocated $200 pesos (10.6 dollars) to prepare the pozole that will serve about six people, including pork, corn, the vegetables that accompany it and the tostadas.

Chili (pepper) is omnipresent in Mexican cuisine, and in the September celebration, you cannot miss the green and red sauces for quesadillas (tortillas folded in half and usually stuffed with cheese) and gorditas of chicharrón, added to the meal of pozole, that according to the taste, you can eat white, red or green, according to the color of the spice that is added to it.

The family table and restaurants for the Mexican night of September 15 have more options, ranging from quesadillas, gorditas, flautas, sopes (thick tortilla on which various ingredients are added), all are based on corn, and each region of the country has its corresponding dish.

Mexicans tend to spend an average of $539 pesos ($28.30) on food and alcoholic beverages in the patriotic dinner to toast Independence.

During the month of September there is a significant increase in the demand for corn grains, without which the stew can not be prepared.

Jamaica water and Horchata water are the most consumed along with alcoholic beverages, which are usually the highest expense of the celebration and double their sales during the season.

74% of Mexicans usually participate in the Mexican night, where it is customary to take out typical ranchero and caporal costumes, with boots, hats and ribbons as ties.

65% usually celebrate the Mexican night with a dinner at home, decorate it with flags and paper cut figures, from where they usually watch the Cry of independence on television, mainly that of the President of the Republic.

The night of September 15th has as much importance for Mexicans as Christmas, and in fact constitutes the biggest date in the country’s civic calendar when commemorating the Grito de Dolores of 1810, with which the priest Miguel Hidalgo called his parishioners to rise in arms, giving rise to the independence struggle that culminated in 1821.