Commemorating the Mexica Foundation with Yólotl Anáhuac
On June 30, 1520, Hernán Cortés and his men were defeated and expelled from the city by the Mexica army. This night resulted in the death of 850 Spaniards and 1,220 Tlaxcaltecas. For centuries, the Spanish narrative referred to this episode as “La noche triste,” concealing what was a significant Mexica victory. To rectify this, the government of Mexico City, supported by the federal government, announced Yólotl Anáhuac, an event celebrating 700 years of the Mexica city’s founding.
Clara Brugada: Reclaiming Historical Truth
Clara Brugada, head of Mexico City’s government, emphasized the importance of honoring the city’s ancestral origins through cultural, educational, and artistic activities that celebrate the Mexica legacy. She stressed the need to reverse history and restore “the true historical account,” renaming the event from “La noche triste” to “La noche victoriosa.”
The Significance of the Date and Consensus Around It
Lorena Vázquez Vallín, an INAH researcher, explained that various historical moments could mark the founding of Gran Tenochtitlán, with 1325 being one of the most accepted dates. Diego Prieto, INAH’s director, highlighted that 2025 is a year of celebration for Mexico’s government and its capital, commemorating the city’s rise as a significant political center in Mesoamérica.
The Program: Yólotl Anáhuac
Yólotl Anáhuac will transform the original perimeter of ancient Tenochtitlan into a 23-kilometer symbolic trail, adorned with lighting, borders, murals, and public art. This route will enable residents to walk or cycle through the foundational island’s form and essence.
Cultural and Artistic Activities
During the press conference, several activities were announced to celebrate the end of the Mexica people’s exodus in search of their promised land:
- Memoria Luminosa. México-Tenochtitlan 700 años: A videomapping spectacle narrating the origins, development, and transformation of Mexico City from July 11 to 27 on Palacio Nacional and Metropolitan Cathedral facades.
- The Cuauhtémoc film opera: A Nahuatl-language film starring soprano Wendy, depicting Tenochtitlan’s heroic defense led by the last tlatoani.
- La nopalera en el corazón: An art installation of 50 intervened nopal sculptures by artists and collectives, currently on Paseo de la Reforma and expected to grow to 250 pieces by January 2026.
- Códice Tenochtitlan: asentamiento mexica: A coloring book for primary school students, illustrating the Mexica people’s migration with educational drawings.
- Códice Cósmico de México-Tenochtitlan: An immersive audiovisual experience at Museo Yancuic for children, families, and general audiences.
Ceremonial Event: México-Tenochtitlan: siete siglos de legado de grandeza
Clara Brugada invited the public to the ceremony led by President Claudia Sheinbaum, featuring 3,500 dancers from the Pilares y las Utopías representing the ancestral migration of the Mexica people from Cincalco’s cave in Chapultepec to the capital’s Zócalo.
Defense Nacional’s Theatrical Performance
The Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional announced a stage production with over 800 actors reenacting Tenochtitlan’s most representative historical moments. The four-act performance will last 31 minutes.
