OVERVIEW OF CINCO DE MAYO
El Cinco de Mayo ("Fifth of May" in Spanish) is a national holiday in Mexico. It commemorates the victory of Mexican forces led by General Ignacio Zaragoza over the French expeditionary forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.
HISTORY OF CINCO DE MAYO
The rise in Cinco de Mayo's popularity in the United States can be attributed to the Chicano student movement of the late 1960s. Inspired by student-activists nationwide, members of the MEChA organization in California sought to find a day of celebration that highlighted their largely Mexican ancestry. El Dieciséis de Septiembre seemed like an obvious choice; however, this day proved too early in the school year for college students to effectively organize rallies and celebrations. Also it was possible that the government of the United States could suspect that the students tried to induce sedititious or secessionist activities within the Mexican-American community. Thus Cinco de Mayo became the de facto alternative for these student assemblies, because its greatest hero, General Zaragoza, was in fact born in Texas. Over the years this holiday grew outside university circles and its activist roots, and was absorbed by mainstream culture in the Southwest United States. For many Mexican-American communities Cinco de Mayo is an important way to proudly honor Mexican heritage, overshadowing Mexico's Independence Day in significance. Non-Mexican Americans also participate in the celebrations, much in the same manner that the non-Irish observe St. Patrick's Day, with holiday-themed parties marked by the consumption of Mexican food, tequila and Mexican beer.
Although honored today as a national holiday in Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is more of a regional celebration, particularly in the state of Puebla where the famous battle took place.
The largest Cinco De Mayo celebration in the United States takes place in Denver's Civic Center area with an annual attendance of 450,000-500,000
CINCO DE MAYO TRIVIA
Is Cinco de Mayo Mexican Independence Day?
Contrary to popular belief in the United States, Cinco de Mayo does not mark Mexican independence day. That distinction is reserved for el Dieciséis de septiembre ("September 16"), which is celebrated at all offices belonging to the executive branch of government, from the president down to the municipal governments, on the night of September 15 through to the early morning hours of September 16 with a re-enactment of the Grito de Dolores; the formal call for an end to Spanish rule in 1810.
Source: The English Wikipedia
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