A celebration of Mexico in Beehive State

Tonight, the "cry" of independence will be heard in Utah, as residents with ties to Mexico celebrate that nation's independence.

Unlike the celebration in Mexico, which could become clouded in politics after a contested presidential election, the celebrations here are more cultural, according to Latino leaders in Utah.

The festivities planned for Salt Lake City tonight, Saturday and Sunday, will be a chance for natives of Mexico to showcase their heritage.

In the United States, Cinco de Mayo, a celebration of a single battle, typically overshadows September 16, which is a celebration of Mexico's 1810 declaration of independence from Spain.

However, in Mexico, the Independence Day festivities are by far bigger than Cinco de Mayo. They traditionally start late on Sept. 15 with a repeat of Father Hildalgo's "cry" for independence, issued from the parish of Dolores in the early morning hours of Sept. 16, 1810, which started Mexico's rebellion.

Fiesta Mexicana is Saturday at Washington Square, 200 E. 400 South. It starts at 11 a.m. The Mexican Independence Day Celebration runs Friday (6:30 to 11 p.m.), Saturday and Sunday (2 to 11 p.m.) at Centro civico Mexicano, 155 S. 600 West. Chilean Independence Day will be celebrated Saturday, 6 to 11 p.m., at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center, 3100 S. 1355 West.

Utah had 136,416 people of Mexican ancestry in the 2000 Census.

The independence event wasn't held last year at Centro Civico Mexicano, but its president John Renteria hopes the revival will grow along with the Hispanic population. A separate festival is planned at Washington Square in downtown Salt Lake.

Utah had 136,416 people of Mexican ancestry in the 2000 Census.

"I think now, more than ever, not only is it a way of reminding themselves in terms of their own ethnic heritage," Renteria said, "it also is an experience for the rest of the community with the respect to appreciating the history of our neighboring country to the south."

In Mexico, a razor-close presidential election was settled by the Federal Electoral Tribunal a week ago. According to the Associated Press, political analysts say there are signs that the losing candidate, Lopez Obrador, is backing off his highly unpopular Mexico City protest.