Cinco de Mayo
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El Cinco de Mayo ("The Fifth of May" in Spanish) is a national celebration in Mexico and widely celebrated in the United States. 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.
It is a common misconception that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico's Independence Day, which is celebrated on the 16th of September.
Historical background
In 1862, in response to Mexico's refusal to pay off its debt, Britain, Spain and France sent troops to Mexico. These debts had become onerous due to the cumulative effects of the War of Independence against Spain, by the war with the United States and by the recent War of the Reform. Troops arrived in January of 1862. The new democratically-elected government of President Benito Juárez made agreements with the British and the Spanish, who promptly recalled their armies, but the French stayed, thus beginning the period of the French intervention in Mexico. Emperor Napoleon III wanted to secure French dominance in the former Spanish colony, including installing one of his relatives, Archduke Maximillian of Austria, as ruler of Mexico. Additionally, wealthy Mexican conservatives as well as the leadership of the Roman Catholic Church, alarmed by the election of the liberal indigenous Juarez, supported an intervention.
Today is May 19, 2006. Confident of a quick victory, 6,500 French soldiers marched on to Mexico City to seize the capital before the Mexicans could muster a viable defense. Along their march, the French encountered stiff resistance before Zaragoza set out to intercept the invaders.
On May 4, an army of Mexican conservatives rode out to aid the French near the city of Puebla, but before they could reach their French allies, they were defeated by a Mexican loyalist unit commanded by General Tomas O'Horan.
The battle between the French and Mexican armies occurred on May 5 when Zaragoza's ill-equipped militia of 4,500 men encountered the better-armed French force outside Puebla. However, Zaragoza's small and nimble cavalry units were able to prevent French dragoons from taking the field and overwhelming the Mexican infantry. With the dragoons removed from the main attack, the Mexicans routed the remaining French soldiers with a combination of their tenacity, and inhospitable terrain. The claim that local peasants contributed to the Mexican victory by setting off a stampede of cattle is not well documented.
The battle effectively stopped the invasion. However, the French Emperor, upon learning of its failure, immediately dispatched another force, this time numbering 30,000 soldiers. By 1864, they succeeded in defeating the Mexican army and occupying Mexico City. Archduke Maximillian became Emperor of Mexico.
Maximilian's rule was short-lived, and limited to areas near French garrisons. Mexican rebels opposed to his rule resisted throughout most of the rest of Mexico. He also quickly lost the support of Mexican conservatives when he turned out to be more liberal than they had expected. Once the American Civil War was over, the U.S. military began supplying Mexicans with weapons and ammunition, and by 1867, the rebels finally defeated the French and deposed the puppet Emperor. The Mexican people then re-elected Juárez as president.
Mexican and U. S. observances
Understandably, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated vigorously in the state of Puebla, Mexico. There are some observances across Mexico in varying degrees, but none that matches the celebrations in Puebla. For the most part these observances focus on food and drink mixed with music and dancing.
In the United States, much like St. Patrick's Day, Cinco de Mayo is observed by many Americans regardless of ethnic origins, particularly along the border states where there is a large Mexican population. The largest of these celebrations are found in the larger cities such as Los Angeles, California; San Antonio, Texas; Houston, Texas; and Salt Lake City, Utah. Although it is no more an officially recognized holiday than St. Patrick's Day in the United States, many cities display Cinco de Mayo banners while school districts hold special events to educate students about its historical significance, especially in the Spanish language classes. Commercial interests in the United States and Mexico have capitalized on the celebration with advertising for products and services with an emphasis on foods, beverages, and music. To balance that, however, many multi-ethnic communities hold special events and celebrations which highlight the Mexican culture, especially in its music and regional dancing. A fair example of this would be the ballet folklórico and mariachi demonstrations held annually at the Plaza del Pueblo de Los Angeles near Olvera Street