|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The ‘Real’ on Cinco de Mayo
By Willie Brown
Sunday is May 5th, the date of a Mexican holiday known as Cinco De Mayo. It is an historic day celebrating the small Mexican army defeating a much larger French Army in the Battle of Puebla.
The real-life David and Goliath story is etched in Mexican history as the day of victory in 1862. While it is not the largest Mexican holiday, it has grown in popularity, especially in the U.S. Actually, it has become more celebrated in the U.S. than in Mexico.
Cinco de Mayo, like many Americanized holidays, has become watered-down and commercialized in some respects. It is often mistaken as Mexico’s Independence Day, and depicted by folks guzzling margaritas, and eating Mexican food.
Prior to his presidency, Donald Trump posted a photo of himself eating a taco, hoping to garner support from Latinos.
In honor of our Latino community, I feel it’s important to teach others about why we celebrate the holiday.
According to History.com:
“In 1862, French Emperor Napoleon III wanted to claim Mexican territory for himself, so he sent his troops to force Mexico’s President Benito Juárez and his government out of Veracruz.
On May 5, in Puebla de Los Angeles – located in central Mexico . The 6,000 French troops faced 2,000 Mexican soldiers at daybreak. Despite the overwhelming odds, by that night Mexico has claimed victory.
According to a 2020 survey on You.Gov, only 40% of Americans knew May 5 wasn’t commemorating the country’s independence.
Mexican Independence Day is on September 16. It commemorates the end of the 300-year Spanish rule over Mexico.
The Mexican War of Independence began Sept. 16, 1810, and lasted over a decade. Spain officially recognized Mexico as an independent country on Aug. 24, 1821.
While some bemoan the Americanization” of Cinco de Mayo,” others see nothing wrong with it. It is the American way. We, as a country, commercialize everything from Christmas to Halloween. That will never change. But I hope at least now you will know why you’re celebrating May 5, if you choose to do so. Have fun, drink, and be merry. But also be ready to explain to someone what the holiday is all about.
