Mexico is experiencing an atmosphere of euphoria and joy, the Mexican men’s soccer team won gold medal against Brazil. We are a country of football fans, no surprise there, but beating the Brazilians and be number one against all expectations is worth celebrating.

And a victory of this magnitude requires a party of equal proportions. That’s why at times like this we go to our Mexican patriotic monuments to celebrate publicly.

In Mexico City it’s the Angel of Independence, the “tapatios” in Guadalajara go to the famous Minerva, the Macro plaza is the venue for the “regiomontanos” in monterrey and  here in Merida the joy is experienced at the “Monumento a la Patria” or monument to the country.

The streets are filled with sports fans, flags, trumpets and drums, fans wearing the Mexican national team jerseys with the names of their favorite soccer players and celebrating Mexico’s gold medal.

The monument built by the Colombian sculptor Romulo Rozo, and in which we celebrate now, is full of history and Mexican culture. The work was initiated in 1944 to be opened 12 years later, on April 23, 1956, by the then President of Mexico Adolfo Ruiz Cortines.

The work is full of symbolism, including the different stages of Mexican history: the colonial, independence, reform and revolution.
It has 31 columns representing the 28 states of the republic, 2 territories and a Federal District. There are also reflected in the stone allusions to traditions and eternal harmony.

Mayan symbols could not miss so the Chacmol and the Ceiba tree also make appearances in this great work. If you visit Paseo Montejo don’t forget to visit the monument to the country, especially on a day like this, when it’s the center of the celebrations.

Congratulations to the men’s soccer team for the gold medal!