Cinco de Mayo is one of more than 365 festivals celebrated by people of Mexican descent. It is often confused with the Mexican Independence Day, which occurred September 16, 1810.
Cinco de Mayo, one of the most popular Mexican festivals celebrated in the United States. It started in 1967 when a group of CSU students decided to hold their first Cinco de Mayo commemoration in the US. They felt the Battle of Puebla was symbolic and decided to use that date to recapture their history. The new holiday was then popularized in part by Chicano activists during the 1960s and 1970s.
Just another puzzle-piece in the Mexican history.
Under General Ignacio Zaragoza, 5,000 ill-equipped Mestizo and Zapotec Indians defeated the French Army in what came to be knows as the "Battle of Puebla" on the fifth of May. The Mexican Army has won the battle, but not the war. In June 1864, Maximiliano of Habsburg and wife arrived in Mexico as Emperor to the nwely formed Mexican Empire. Finally, Maximiliano was overthrown and executed on June 19, 1867. Mexico was no longer a French Empire. Cinco de Mayo was established as symbolic of the Mexican's courage against a formidable army.
One Celebration, two different perspectives.
In Mexico, Military parades are held as a way of paying tribute to all the heroes, soldiers and civilians that gave their lives for their country. It makes months of reharsal and preparations for the marching bands to perform and compete among other to be the best.
In the United States, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated on a much larger scale, to the point of becoming more a Chicano holiday than a Mexican one. People celebrate this significant day by having parades, mariachi music, folklorico dancing and other types of festive activities.
Cinco de Mayo is a date of great importance for Mexicans as well as of other cultures. Today, in Mexico, and in Mexican-communities, May 5th brings celebration, parades and pride. It is a day to celebrate the heritage and culture of Americans of Mexican ancestry, or just to pay tribute to those Mexicans who gave their lives for their nation.
