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Celebrating Mexican Independence Day

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Every month, multicultural contributor Gloria Jimenez, president of the Indiana Latino Expo, shares news and resources with News 8.

On Monday, she talked with Phil Sanchez about Mexican Independence Day and Hispanic Heritage Month.

While Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday, it doesn’t commemorate Mexico’s independence. May 5 marks the Mexican army’s victory over France at the battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican war in 1862. Mexico’s Independence Day is celebrated on Sept. 16.

Jimenez says there are about 80,000 Mexicans in Indianapolis, and the Mexican Consulate in Indianapolis serves around 500,000 Mexicans around the area, as far away as of Lexington, Dayton, Columbus and Bowling Green.

While some events were canceled because of the pandemic, this Friday Gourmex Indy will bring in a chef to prepare all kinds of Mexican cuisine, Jimenez said.

And Hispanic Heritage Month is just weeks away. It takes place from Sept. 15 – Oct. 15.