|
Discover: Cinco De Mayo
 Cinco
de Mayo or "Fifth of May" is a date of great
historical and symbolic importance for the Mexican
people, and is celebrated as a major public holiday
each year - not only in Mexico itself but also in
Mexican communities throughout the United States.
Cinco de Mayo is often confused with Mexico's
Independence Day but it is not. Independence Day in
Mexico is celebrated on September 16 - the day that
Mexico gained its independence from Spain in 1810.
Cinco de Mayo, on the other hand, commemorates the
astounding victory of the Mexican Army over the
French at the Battle of Puebla on the 5th of May,
1862.
Battle of Puebla
In 1861, Benito Juárez, the President of Mexico,
decided to suspend all foreign debt repayments for
two years due to financial instability in the
country, mainly attributable to the expenses of the
Mexican-American War.
France, one of the major creditors, demanded
immediate repayment of the debt owing to it. When
Mexico indicated that it was unable to do so, the
French decided on military intervention to collect
the debt. Nowadays the new military term is called
Pre-emptive strike! 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. 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, sent about 8000 foot soldiers to occupy
Mexico City. On May 5, 1862, as they were marching
towards the capital, the French soldiers entered the
town of Puebla. Lying in wait for the French
soldiers at Puebla was a poorly equipped, but brave
army of about 4,000 Mestizo and Zapotec Indian
troops commanded by General Ignacio Zaragoza. The
French general, believing the Mexican troops to be
easy targets, ordered his soldiers to attack
directly into the center of the Mexican defenses.
Before the day was over, more than 1,000 French
soldiers were killed. The Mexicans had won the
battle, forcing the French to retreat all the way to
the coast. 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.
This battle is known as the Battle of Puebla. The
battlefield is now a city park, with a statue of
General Zaragoza on horseback and a war museum that
was once one of the forts the General and his men
defended.
Celebrations
 Cinqo
de Mayo is remembered as the day that Mexican people
exhibited great courage and determination to defend
themselves against a major colonial European power
by fighting a battle and winning against all odds.
The day is symbolic of Mexican pride, unity and
patriotism.
Cinco De Mayo festivities in Mexico include colorful
parades, bullfights, re-enactments of the 1862
battle, mariachi music, folk dancing, cultural
festivals, dancing and feasts, and plenty of
drinking. In the evening, there are spectacular
firework displays and pinatas for the children.
Mexico's president traditionally delivers a speech
from the National Palace in Mexico City on that day.
Cinco de Mayo ends with the traditional shouts of
Viva Mexico! Viva Juárez!
Cinco de Mayo is widely celebrated by
Mexican-Americans and their descendants in the
United States. Many cities with significant Mexican
and Chicano populations throughout the US schedule
special events on the 5th of May. In Los Angeles,
most notably, revelers fill the streets in front of
City Hall for speeches and performances by Mexican
entertainers on this day.
|
