Cinco de Mayo

In the United States, most people celebrate Cinco De Mayo but how many of us know exactly what we are celebrating? Many people think Cinco De Mayo is to Mexico what the 4th of July is to the United States. Mexican Independence Day, which is actually on September 16th and declared more than 50 years before the Battle of Puebla.

Benito Juárez, a lawyer, military commander and Mexican politician, became the 26th president of Mexico in 1858. Due to Mexico’s financial ruins, Benito Juárez suspended foreign debt payments in 1861 to European governments. In response, France, Britain and Spain negotiated sent naval forces to Veracruz, Mexico. Britian and Spain negotiated with Mexico and withdrew their forces. France used this opportunity to carve an empire out of Mexican territory.

In late 1861 the French stormed the Eastern Port city of Veracruz and eventually forced the Mexicans to retreat. The French aimed to conquer Mexico City by first securing Puebla. Benito Juárez enlisted soldiers to prevent the French from moving farther inland. Victory seemed impossible for Mexico.

Even though being outnumbered three to one, 2,000 Mexican troops stood against 6,000 French soldiers, Mexico refused to back down. Led by General Ignacio Zaragoza, they fortified Puebla on May 5, 1862 and fought back hard. Fewer than 100 Mexican’s dies, while French casualties were 5 times higher. Even though the battle of Puebla didn’t win the war, it raised national spirits when Mexico really needed it.

With military support and political pressure from the United States, in 1867 France finally withdrew.

In Mexico, celebrations are primarily in Puebla with Military Parades and battle reenactments. Cinco De Mayo represents Mexican Pride against all odds. It isn’t as widely celebrated in Mexico as it is in the United states. In the United Stated, Chicano activists popularized the holiday in the 1960s, in part because they identified with the victory of Indigenous Mexicans over European invaders during the Battle of Puebla.

 

Way to Celebrate Cinco De Mayo Without Appropriating:

  1. Skip Stereotypical Costumes

  2. Support Authentic Mexican Businesses

  3. Amplify Mexican voices

  4. Offer clarification around Cinco de Mayo when you hear it represented incorrectly

  5. Research ways to advocate

 

General Ignacio Zaragoza

Benito Pablo Juárez García

 

Written by Teneah McDaniel

Guest User