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Aye caramba! Cinco de Mayo is a great excuse for a party
U. S. citizens might consider Cinco de Mayo just another opportunity to don festive attire, drink Corona and eat Mexican food, but it is actually a national holiday south of the border.
Cinco de Mayo is primarily a regional holiday celebrated in the Mexican state capital city of Puebla. There is some limited recognition of the holiday throughout the country with different levels of enthusiasm, but it’s nothing like that found in Puebla.
Its popularity recently spilled over the border to become a huge hit now enjoyed in U.S. cities, especially those with a significant Mexican population. It is not, as many people think, Mexico’s Independence Day, which is actually September 16.
In the Gulf Coast area, the holiday is a celebration of Mexican culture, food, music, beverages and customs unique to Mexico. May is a beautiful time of year in the South, and paper lanterns, piñatas and colorful partyware often create the perfect outdoor celebration. It is hard to believe that the holiday actually commemorates the bravery and victory of General Zaragoza’s small, outnumbered militia at the bloody Battle of Puebla in 1862.
The battle at Puebla was fought in 1862 during a violent and chaotic time in Mexico’s history. Mexico had finally gained independence from Spain in 1821 after a difficult and bloody struggle, and a number of internal political takeovers and wars followed, which had mostly wiped out the national economy, leaving Mexico vulnerable.
France was eager to add to its empire at that time, and used the fact of Mexico’s weary indebtedness to move forward with goals of establishing its own leadership in Mexico. When Mexico failed to pay its debts to France, France took action to install Napoleon’s relative, Archduke Maximilian of Austria, as ruler of Mexico. French rule of Mexico was also short lived, from 1864 to 1867.
With the American Civil War over, the U.S. began to provide more political and military assistance to Mexico to expel the French, and the Mexican Army prevailed.
Several cities throughout the U.S. hold parades and concerts during the week leading up to May 5th, so that Cinco de Mayo has become a bigger holiday north of the border than to the south. Amazing as it sounds, the American popularity of Cinco de Mayo has a lot more to do with a very effective marketing campaign for Corona beer. Cinco de Mayo is a fun time to celebrate with joyous Mexican music, spicy food and and a cold frosted mug. So enjoy!
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