{"id":26509,"date":"2018-05-04T13:37:20","date_gmt":"2018-05-04T20:37:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/northstarmoving.com\/blog\/?p=26509"},"modified":"2018-07-20T07:52:52","modified_gmt":"2018-07-20T14:52:52","slug":"celebrating-mexican-history-culture-on-cinco-de-mayo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.northstarmoving.com\/blog\/2018\/celebrating-mexican-history-culture-on-cinco-de-mayo\/","title":{"rendered":"Celebrating Mexican History & Culture On Cinco de Mayo"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the United States, <\/span>Cinco de Mayo<\/span><\/i> (Spanish for \u201cFifth of May\u201d) is well-known in most major cities as a day for people to gather together and enjoy delicious Mexican cuisine, ice-cold <\/span>cervezas<\/span><\/i> and the classic tangy margarita. However, it is also an opportunity to delve into \u2013 and gain a greater understanding of \u2013 the history and traditions behind this annual spring celebration.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cinco de Mayo is actually celebrated more here in the U.S. than it is in Mexico, where it is not even a federal holiday. Also, contrary to common belief, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico\u2019s Independence Day (which occurred over 50 years before and is honored on September 16). Cinco de Mayo in fact commemorates the unlikely triumph of the Mexican army over the stronger French forces at the legendary Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Lead to the French-Mexican War<\/b><\/h3>\n

Facing a severe economic crisis in 1861 after several wars (independence from Spain, 1810-1821; the Mexican-American War, 1846-1848; a civil war, 1858-1861), Mexican President Benito Juarez stopped payment on foreign debt. Juarez subsequently came to a diplomatic resolution with Spain and Great Britain, however the French monarch, Napoleon III, took the opportunity to invade Mexico and install a distant relative as emperor.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Battle<\/a>
Battle of Puebla via CC-BY-SA-3.0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Battle of Puebla<\/b><\/h3>\n

Confident they would be able to easily take over Mexico, the French army of over 6,000 was surprised in Puebla (located in east-central Mexico) upon encountering a much smaller, ill-equipped battalion of about 2,000 Mexican soldiers led by General Ignacio Zaragoza, at dawn on May 5th, 1862. The French retreated later that evening after they had lost about 500 soldiers \u2013 while less than 100 Mexicans had perished.<\/span><\/p>\n

The French-Mexican War would not end until 1867, but the unyielding bravery and tenacious determination displayed at Puebla by the outnumbered Mexican troops became a source of inspiration for Mexico during those years.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

Cinco de Mayo in the U.S.<\/b><\/h3>\n

There are many thoughts regarding the popularization of Cinco de Mayo in the U.S. One is related to the growth of the Mexican-American population. Also, Texas, California, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, etc. were once held by Mexico. Later, the Bracero Program (established during World War II, continuing through 1964) allowed legal U.S. entry to Mexican seasonal laborers. Then the political issues and social changes of the 1960s saw an uptake in ethnic pride as Mexican immigrants fought for their rights and Mexican-Americans began the Chicano movement, with a shared protest against the view that their heritage should be abandoned for assimilation into American culture. Cinco de Mayo celebrations resurged as a symbol of resistance.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately as Cinco de Mayo has become more popular, it has also become increasingly commercialized. Since the 1980s, products associated with Mexican culture have been the focus of Cinco de Mayo marketing campaigns. Liquor companies in particular have benefited financially by heavily advertising tequila and beer, a strategy also utilized for St. Patrick\u2019s Day and Oktoberfest.<\/span><\/p>\n

Celebrating without Appropriating<\/b><\/h3>\n

While avoiding cultural appropriation on Cinco de Mayo (steering clear of potentially offensive costumes and from speaking \u201cSpanglish\u201d is always a good idea), the observance of Cinco de Mayo provides the chance to make a positive impact in your community by patronizing Mexican-American owned businesses\/ purchasing Mexican-American made products:\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Papel<\/a>
Papel Picado by timlewisnm via CC BY-SA 2.0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n