Mar 29 2009
May
Cinco de Mayo became a symbol of Mexico’s national pride, of the country’s right and ability to defend itself, and a source of self-respect for its indigenous and mestizo peoples.
In Mexico, the holiday is celebrated with parades, speeches, and historical displays. It is more festive in the United States of America, especially in those states with large Mexican-American populations. These festivities include parades, traditional music, folkloric dances, and food, demonstrating pride in their Mexican heritage, and celebrate the contribution of General Zaragoza, whom some consider the first Tejano hero.
Cinco de Mayo is a date of great importance for the Mexican and Chicano communities. It marks the victory of the Mexican Army over the French at the Battle of Puebla. Although the Mexican army was eventually defeated, the “Batalla de Puebla” came to represent a symbol of Mexican unity and patriotism. With this victory, Mexico demonstrated to the world that Mexico and all of Latin America were willing to defend themselves of any foreign intervention. Especially those from imperialist states bent on world conquest
In the United States, the “Batalla de Puebla” came to be known as simply “5 de Mayo” and unfortunately, many people wrongly equate it with Mexican Independence which was on September 16, 1810, nearly a fifty year difference. Over, the years Cinco de Mayo has become very commercialized and many people see this holiday as a time for fun and dance. Oddly enough, Cinco de Mayo has become more of Chicano holiday than a Mexican one. Cinco de Mayo is celebrated on a much larger scale here in the United States than it is in Mexico. People of Mexican descent in the United States celebrate this significant day by having parades, mariachi music, folklorico dancing and other types of festive activities.
