Cinco de Mayo
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Cinco de Mayo ("The Fifth of May" in Spanish) is a national holiday in Mexico which is also widely celebrated in the United States. It commemorates the victory of Mexican forces led by General Ignacio Zaragoza over the French occupational forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.
It is a common misconception that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico's Independence Day, which is celebrated on September 16th ("Dieciseis de septiembre" in Spanish), but actually it is a celebration of the battle.
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[edit] Historical background
Cinco de Mayo celebrates the legendary Battle of Puebla, Mexico on May 5, 1862 in which a Mexican force of 4,500 men faced 6,000 men of the well trained forces of Napoleon III's French Army. The battle, which lasted all of four hours ended in a moral and military victory for the Mexican Army led by the 33 year old General Ignacio Zaragoza.
So, why Cinco de Mayo? And why should Americans savor this day as well? Because 4,000 Mexican soldiers smashed the French and traitor Mexican army of 8,000 at Puebla, Mexico, 100 miles east of Mexico City on the morning of May 5, 1862.
The French had landed in Mexico (along with Spanish and English troops) five months earlier on the pretext of collecting Mexican debts from the newly elected government of democratic President (and Indian) Benito Juarez. The English and Spanish quickly made deals and left. The French, however, had different ideas.
Under Emperor Napoleon III, who detested the United States, the French came to stay. They brought a Hapsburg prince with them to rule the new Mexican empire. His name was Maximilian; his wife, Carolota. Napoleon's French Army had not been defeated in 50 years, and it invaded Mexico with the finest modern equipment and with a newly reconstituted Foreign Legion. The French were not afraid of anyone, especially since the United States was embroiled in its own Civil War.
The French Army left the port of Vera Cruz to attack Mexico City to the west, as the French assumed that the Mexicans would give up should their capital fall to the enemy -- as European countries traditionally did.
Under the command of Texas-born General Zaragosa, (and the cavalry under the command of Colonel Porfirio Diaz, later to be Mexico's president and dictator), the Mexicans awaited. Brightly dressed French Dragoons led the enemy columns. The Mexican Army was less stylish.
General Zaragosa ordered Colonel Diaz to take his cavalry, the best in the world, out to the French flanks. In response, the French did a most stupid thing; they sent their cavalry off to chase Diaz and his men, who proceeded to butcher them. The remaining French infantrymen charged the Mexican defenders through sloppy mud from a thunderstorm and through hundreds of head of stampeding cattle stirred up by Indians armed only with machetes.
When the battle was over, many French were killed or wounded and their cavalry was being chased by Diaz' superb horsemen miles away. The Mexicans had won a great victory that kept Napoleon III from supplying the confederate rebels for another year, allowing the United States to build the greatest army the world had ever seen. This grand army smashed the Confederates at Gettysburg just 14 months after the battle of Puebla, essentially ending the Civil War.
Union forces were then rushed to the Texas/Mexican border under General Phil Sheridan, who made sure that the Mexicans got all the weapons and ammunition they needed to expel the French. American soldiers were discharged with their uniforms and rifles if they promised to join the Mexican Army to fight the French. The American Legion of Honor marched in the Victory Parade in Mexico, City.
[edit] Observances
Cinco de Mayo is celebrated vigorously in the state of Puebla, Mexico. There are some observations across Mexico in varying degrees, but none that matches the celebrations in Puebla. For the most part these observances focus on food and drink mixed with music and dancing.
[edit] Mexico
Cinco de Mayo is celebrated vigorously in the state of Puebla, Mexico. There are some observations across Mexico in varying degrees, but none that matches the celebrations in Puebla. For the most part these observances focus on food and drink mixed with music and dancing.
[edit] United States
In the United States Cinco de Mayo is observed by many Americans regardless of ethnic origins, particularly along the border states where there is a large hispanic population. The largest of these celebrations are found in the larger cities such as Denver, Colorado; Los Angeles, California; San Diego, California; Dallas, Texas; San Antonio, Texas; Houston, Texas; and Phoenix, Arizona. Although it is no more an officially recognized holiday than St. Patrick's Day in the United States, many cities display Cinco de Mayo banners while school districts hold special events to educate students about its historical significance, especially in the Spanish language classes. Commercial interests in the United States have capitalized on the celebration with advertising for products and services with an emphasis on foods, beverages, and music. To balance that, however, many multi-ethnic communities hold special events and celebrations which highlight the Mexican-hispanic culture, especially in its music and regional dancing. A fair example of this would be the ballet folklórico and mariachi demonstrations held annually at the Plaza del Pueblo de Los Angeles near Olvera Street. However, some hispanics, both in Mexico and in the United States, reject all celebration of Cinco de Mayo, regarding it as essentially a North American commercial contrivance rather than an authentically Mexican event.
