Cinco De Mayo is a Mexican celebration that is observed annually on May 5th. The Spanish phrase translates to “fifth of May”. During this holiday, Mexicans hold a massive parade that features people dressed up as Mexican and French soldiers. The festival is also celebrated in the United States. However, since the day is mostly celebrated with recreational activities, many people may not be informed about the history of this holiday.
In 1861, Mexico was in financial turmoil. The country had endured an eleven-year battle with Spain. The country’s foreign trade was also failing as its primary market, the U.S., was engulfed in a civil war. Then Mexican President, Benito Juarez, had just finished a civil war against the conservatives which had lasted about three years. All these events had left the Mexican National treasury empty.
On July 17th 1861, the Mexican Congress halted all their expenditures in a bid to minimize cost. All payments were suspended as the government tried to figure out what to do with the debt. This action was seen as a reluctance to pay its creditors. Charles Wyke, the British Minister to Mexico, saw the country’s move as “bare-faced robbery”. Dubois de Saligny, his French counterpart in Mexico, also informed France of the country’s decisions. Saligny wrote to France stating that “Mexico had become the State of Anarchy.” Diplomatic relations between Mexico and the European Powers were officially broken. France, Spain, and Britain prepared for an attack on Mexico.
The U.S. knew that Mexico was in debt and vulnerable to attack. Thomas Corwin, the U.S. representative in Mexico, convinced President Lincoln that a European invasion in Mexico would be a threat to the U.S.. This is the 1st time in history that the U.S. was requested to grant a loan to a friendly government to keep it afloat and ward off lenders. There were attempts by the U.S. to help Mexico overcome its debt to Europe as well as a proposal requesting the U.S to pay Mexico’s debt to France, Britain, and Spain at an interest of 3%, after which Mexico would repay the loan to the U.S at a rate of 6%. This proposal was rejected by the European countries as they did not want the U.S. to get involved in the issue.
In late 1861, the French invaded Mexico. The army first invaded Veracruz, forcing the Mexican government to retreat northwards. This victory gave the French the confidence to invade the city of Puebla De Los Angeles. However, the Mexican President, Benito Juárez had commissioned about 4000 troops to the city under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza. The city was unfamiliar territory to France. There are accounts of soldiers getting lost in the woods and getting drenched in rain that left French soldiers staggering aimlessly. General Zaragoza believed that God was on their side and they would win the battle. On the other hand, the French General was overconfident, thinking that no one could defeat the world’s most powerful army. In the end, the determined Mexican army prevailed against the best European army. The Battle of Puebla lasted from morning to evening. By the time the French were retreating, they had lost 500 soldiers. The Mexican side had lost less than 100 soldiers. This victory motivated the resistance movement in Mexico. On September 16, 1862, President Juarez declared the date of the battle of Puebla as a national holiday—Cinco De Mayo, also known as the Battle of Puebla Day (‘El Día de la Batalla de Puebla’). A year after the Battle at Puebla, France came back with 30,000 troops and seized the Mexico City. Three years later, however, Mexico took over. Britain and Spain retreated before the French attack as they had already reached an agreement with Mexico. The French army was better equipped, well-trained, and more extensive compared to the Mexican army. As a result, Mexico’s victory was unexpected. Many of the Mexican soldiers were farmers with little experience in war. France had gone undefeated for 50 years.
Napoleon used the debt issue as a strategy to occupy the Americas. He figured that if he could conquer Mexico, he would establish a puppet government and use it to obtain southern cotton from the U.S. which at the time was preoccupied with a Civil War. Thanks to a union shipping blockade, southern cotton had become a rare commodity in Europe. In 1862, California was encouraging that the Union War could be won following the defeat of the French army. On Cinco De Mayo, parades in California with people carrying the American and Mexican flags were the order of the day. During the parade, the crowd would sing the Star-Spangled Banner in English followed by When Johnny Comes Marching Home in Spanish.
In Los Angeles, the holiday has been celebrated annually since 1862, how the holiday was celebrated is mired in mystery. A defiant Napoleon declared Mexico a colony of the French. However, after the Civil War, Lincoln made it clear that they would not tolerate French occupation of its neighbors. Napoleon responded by withdrawing his army in 1867. No European army has ever invaded the Americas after the defeat of France.
In Mexico, most of the celebrations take place in the town of Puebla. People come out to watch the parade that features people dressed in patriotic clothing as well as clothing similar to that worn by the French and Mexican soldiers during the war. Vendors sell traditional Mexican dishes and patriotic clothing. Also, there is usually a reenactment of the battle during the holiday. In the U.S. and in some regions in Canada, people observe Cinco De Mayo with friends and family. Patriotic clothing is common during the celebration as well as Mexican food and folk music. People also decorate their houses with flowers, balloons, and other colorful decorations. Cinco De Mayo is not a federal holiday but is observed annually. Cinco De Mayo has often been confused with the Mexican Independence Day from Spain (which is on September 10th) or the 1910 Mexican Revolution (which is on November 20th).
Cinco De Mayo celebrations have become a part of American tradition and is widely used to represent the Mexican heritage and customs, especially in regions with high Mexican American populations such as Cleveland, Boston, Washington D.C., San Jose, Orlando, San Diego, Atlanta, Miami, Indianapolis, Houston, New York, Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles. Cinco De Mayo is observed on May 5th every year. Nearly half a million people show up to the parades in Los Angeles alone. The holiday has also become an excellent opportunity to indulge in Mexican food while enjoying mariachi music. On June 7th, 2005, Congress issued a concurrent resolution requesting the U.S. president to issue a proclamation calling upon the U.S. citizens to observe the holiday. The Resolution was approved and Cinco De Mayo was recognized as a holiday with historical significance. Since then, it is common to see Cinco De Mayo banners in the country. School districts also take the opportunity to educate students about the history associated with the holiday.
The world’s largest celebrations of the holiday are held in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston. This is primarily due to the commercialization of the holiday. The festivity is called the ‘Fiesta Broadway.’ Chihuahua races in Chandler, Arizona are held on this day and crown a King and Queen Chihuahua. Popular foods during the holidays include enchiladas, tacos, burritos, and guacamole, including popular Mexican beverages. This holiday is also celebrated in Malta, a country between Sicily and the North African coast. Cinco De Mayo is also celebrated in other parts of the world such as the Caribbean where a Cinco de Mayo air guitar competition is held. Other countries that celebrate this holiday include Jamaica, Australia, London, Paris, South Africa, Tokyo, Lagos, Nigeria, and New Zealand.
In Mexico, this holiday is not considered as a statutory holiday but schools remain closed on this day. However, in the Mexican state of Puebla, where the battle occurred, and its neighboring state of Veracruz, this day is observed as a national holiday, where schools and government offices are closed. In the U.S., Franklin Roosevelt helped ‘Americanize’ the holiday when he introduced the 1933 Good Neighbor Policy. There is a traditional official dish for the holiday called the Mole Poblano. However, it is not very popular during the holiday.
Cinco De Mayo is a significant event to both Americans and Mexicans. Joseph Natalio Baca Sr., former California Congressman, stated that the holiday “has come to represent a celebration of the contributions that Mexican Americans and all Hispanics have made to America.” The holiday lives on in the hearts and minds of the people. In the U.S., Cinco De Mayo reflects the diversity and rich history of its people as well as the over 33 million people who are of Hispanic or Latino origin.
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