Cinco de Mayo

L AUREN COCCA

Common Misconception
Cinco de Mayo is NOT Mexicos Independence Day!
September 16th is the actual date that Mexico gained its independence.

Cinco de Mayo actually celebrates an event that occurred 50 years after

Mexico gained independence

So, what happened on May 5th?

President, Benito Juarez, declared that Mexico was too poor to repay its debts
to other nations, that it had accumulated during the numerous wars during
that time, which caused France to invade Mexico and name it a French
territory
When French troops invaded Puebla on May 5, 1862, a group of Mexican
troops, lead by Gen. Ignacio Zaragoza, defeated them
This was a shock considering Mexican troops were outnumbered 2:1

This victory did not, however, prevent the French from going to Mexico City
but it did become a symbol of Mexican resistance against French Imperialism
Eventually, the Mexicans pushed out the French with help from the United
States, and Juarez was put back into power

& then
This victory spread back to the United States, and Mexican Americans used it
as inspiration for the Union struggle during the Civil War.
This inspiration was a cause for celebration and people began holding
parades, dances, speeches, banquets and bull fights on May 5 th
And now, Cinco de Mayo is a bigger U.S holiday than a Mexican one
Mostly celebrated in Puebla when it is celebrated in Mexico

Puebla Today
Renamed Puebla de Zaragoza
Has a museum dedicated to the battle
The battlefield was turned into a park
On Cinco de Mayo
Have a parade with 20,000 participants along Boulevard Cinco de Mayo
Includes military, children, students and floats

A mock battle is held

Cinco de Mayo in United States

First was celebrated in Southern California in 1863 to show solidarity against
French rule
It has continued on a yearly basis but around the 1930s, Mexican-Americans
used it as an opportunity to
Celebrate Mexican heritage
Promote ethnic consciousness
Continue building solidarity in the U.S

In the 1950s and 1960s, it was further spread by youth and was promoted as
a way to celebrate Mexican-American Pride
In the 1980s, it became more commercialized

Celebrations
Parades
Parties
Mariachi Music
Folk Dancing
Mexican Food
Margaritas
Speeches
Reenactments of the Battle

Fun Facts
The WORLDS largest Cinco de Mayo celebration occurs in Los Angeles
Its called the Festival de Fiesta Broadway and attracts around 300,000 people
Large celebrations also occur in New York City, Houston and Denver

In Chandler, Arizona, there are Chihuahua races to commemorate the day

The winning 2 dogs are crowned king and queen

Americans consume up to 81 million avocados on Cinco de Mayo

33.6 million U.S. residents are from Mexican backgrounds/ Mexican heritage

My Cinco de Mayo Experience

Sources
http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/cinco-de-mayo
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/118001/Cinco-de-Mayo
http://
gomexico.about.com/od/festivalsholidays/f/cinco_de_mayo_us_mexico_questi
on.htm
http://gomexico.about.com/od/cinco-de-mayo/p/cinco-de-mayo-in-puebla.htm
http://
www.hlntv.com/article/2013/05/04/cinco-de-mayo-food-cuisine-mexican-holid
ay

Questions?
THANK YOU!