By Litzi Aguilar
You might have heard about Cinco de Mayo, the Mexican celebration that is more popular in the United States than in Mexico. Now, what exactly does Cinco de Mayo celebrate? Mexican Independence is a common answer, but it’s not accurate! It is actually the celebration of Mexico’s victory over the French.
It was the year before Mexico’s victory on September 16th when Mexican President Benito Juarez suspended all foreign debt, resulting in the invasion by the French. The fighting continued until the following year until May 5th, when the Battle of Puebla took place. The French sent 6,000 soldiers to storm the Mexican city of Heroica Puebla de Zaragoza. Though the Mexican soldiers were severely outnumbered, they fought back with all their might until the French retreated.
Though it didn’t end there, the French went on to capture Mexico City and installed Emperor Maximilian I as its ruler. Then, in 1866, the Mexican army could expel the French with aid from the U.S. Juarez then resumed his presidency and declared May 5th as the official holiday. Since then, the people of Puebla, Mexico, and the United States celebrate this victory. Fun fact: In June of 2005, Congress and former U.S. President George W. Bush recognized the historical importance of this holiday and encouraged its observation!
Here in the United States, this holiday is celebrated by attending parades and listening to Mexican folk music called mariachi. If you plan to visit Washington, D.C., any time soon, you can attend the Running of the Chihuahuas, where Chihuahuas race each other for fun!
There are several fun ways this holiday is celebrated, but if you’re looking for a way, then you can start by:
– Learning about Mexico!
One of the best ways to appreciate a culture is to educate yourself! Dive into Mexican culture by learning about their celebrations and their true meanings.
– Eating authentic Mexican dishes!
One of the best ways to learn about a culture is through food! The official dish of Cinco de Mayo is mole poblano, a traditional Mexican sauce served over chicken or turkey, and served with side dishes of rice and beans. There are other dishes too, like tamales, chalupas, and tacos, you can enjoy, too!
– Take a Zapateo class!
Zapateo is a type of Mexican dance, similar to American tap dancing, which is thought to have roots in Josefa Vargas of Cadiz, Spain. This dance focuses on one’s feet and the complicated hee-heel and heel-sole strikes. You can learn other kinds of Mexican dances, like Jarabe Tapatio, Michoacan, La Danza del Venado, La Bamba, or more traditionally, the Concheros. All these dances are a combination of Indigenous, European, and African influences that display the richness of the culture of each region in Mexico.
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