Cinco de Mayo: A Celebration of Mexican Culture and Heritage

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo in style with music, dance, and amazing festivity. Image: S Pakhrin from DC, USA (Cinco de mayo DC 2014). via Wikimedia Commons

LIFESTYLE: Cinco de Mayo is an opportunity for Mexicans to celebrate culture and nationalism. It is also an occasion to propagate the contributions of Latinos to American society.

BY KAZAD

Image: Musicians celebrating Cinco de Mayo in DC during an event that brought together audience from the Mexican and Latino communities — Musicians celebrating Cinco de Mayo in DC. Photo: S Pakhrin. via Wikimedia Commons

Cinco de Mayo, The festival that brings Mexicans and Latinos in general together to celebrate culture and nationalism happens every May 5. People often confuse the Cinco de Mayo celebration with Mexico’s independent celebration, which happens on September 16. This is not unusual because the festival is very popular and the victory of the battle that created Cinco de Mayo has become a signifier for Mexico’s nationalism.

The Battle of Puebla

Cinco de Mayo is the celebration of a bloody war that showed the prowess and victory of the scanty Mexico army over a well-armed and fearless French army. Known as the Battle of Puebla, the foundation for the war began about 1861. That year, Mexico had been invaded by Spain, France, and Great Britain. Within six months, however, Spain and Britain pulled out of Mexico, leaving France as the only hegemonic power. France saw the withdrawal of the colonial powers as an opportunity to claim Mexico. Another advantage was the U.S. Civil War raging north of the Mexican border.

The French took advantage of the chaos in the United States and the withdrawal of the other colonial powers to invade Mexico, which had been decimated by a war in the late 1850s. The situation in Mexico made it easy for the French to ram through many parts of the country with little or no resistance. In 1862, the French invasion was gradually becoming a swift victory. That was before May 5, 1862, when they got to the town of Puebla.

About 85 miles from east of Mexico City, Puebla was the Waterloo for the French soldiers. There, a small Mexican army under the command of Ignacio Zaragoza mounted a spirited defense against the experienced and larger French contingent. The battle was fierce but Mexican soldiers were unrelenting in their quest to defeat the French. After hours of battle, the small Mexican army won and David had defeated Goliath. The battle lasted from daybreak to early evening. When it was over, the French had lost 500 soldiers, while less than 100 Mexican soldiers were killed.

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The Celebration of Cinco de Mayo

Since that epochal victory, Cinco de Mayo has been a reason to celebrate in Mexico, especially in Puebla, where Zaragoza’s unlikely victory happened. Mexicans come out across the country in full display and celebration of the heroism of their ancestors’ past. Although the celebration is perhaps very symbolic, it has become a reason to celebrate a sense of nationalism.

In the United States, Cinco de Mayo is a major celebration every year by Mexican immigrants, Latinos, and all those who love having fun and eating good food. The day has become popular in areas with a significant Mexican American population, and the celebration has become a signifier of Mexico’s independence and nationalism, attracting people of many cultures. The celebration began gaining popularity in the 1960s when Mexican American activists started identifying with the victory of indigenous Mexicans over European invaders during the Battle of Puebla.

Although a major feature in Mexico, especially Puebla, Cinco de Mayo is heavily celebrated in the United States. Every year, Mexican immigrants, Latinos, and all those who love having fun and eating good food gather for merry-making. There are several reasons the day is very popular in the United States. Firstly, it is a popular celebration of Mexican culture and heritage in areas with a significant Mexican American population. The celebration has become even more popular across the United States because of the increase in the Latino population. Secondly, the festival has become a signifier for Mexico’s independence and nationalism, attracting people of many cultures.

The celebration of Cinco de Mayo began gaining popularity in the 1960s when Mexican American activists started identifying with the victory of indigenous Mexicans (such as Juárez) over European invaders during the Battle of Puebla. Many of these activists, who were also part of the growing civil rights movement in the 1960s, used the day as a source of pride.

Commercialization of Cinco de Mayo

Over the years, Cinco de Mayo has become popular across the United States because of commercialization. Many companies see the festival as an opportunity to put their products in front of their customers. Corona, for example, continues to consolidate its position as the official drink for the May 5 celebrations. Restaurants are also benefiting from all the festivities and celebrations. In Baltimore, restaurants spend time preparing for May 5, preparing some of the most amazing and tantalizing dishes associated with the festivities.

Restaurants are also benefiting from all the festivities and celebrations. In Baltimore, restaurants spend time preparing for May 5. There is always a competition to outdo each other, preparing some of the most amazing and tantalizing dishes associated with the festivities. Restaurants like Maximón, Felipe’s Mexican Taqueria, Mayo Blues Jam, Bowley’s on the Bay are always ready to serve people the best Mexican food and drinks.

Celebrations Across the United States

Cinco de Mayo is characterized by great festivities. Fiesta De Mayo at Power Plant Live is perhaps one of the biggest parties celebrating the occassion in Baltimore. There is music and dancing all night long. In Goliad, Texas, where Zaragoza was born, the celebration is always with a passion. About 60 miles due north of Corpus Christi, Goliad, Texas, was declared the official place to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in 1999. There is live music, dance, outdoor cooking, and parties at the Goliad Fairgrounds during celebrations. But Cinco de Mayo’s festivities transcend Texas. From Chicago to Denver, Portland, Oregon, St. Paul, Minnesota, and Washington DC, the festival brings together Mexican immigrants and the Latino population.

The Significance of Cinco de Mayo Celebrations

Cinco de Mayo celebrations have become integral to American society after many decades. In addition to all the festivities, it has also inculcated a sense of pride in all those that partake in the celebrations. The reason for celebrating the day has evolved through the years to incorporate contemporary issues. Lately, the focus has been on immigration and the disparagement of Latinos by politicians. The festival has thus become the opportunity to propagate the contributions of Mexicans and Latinos in general to American society.