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Cinco de Mayo

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cinco de Mayo
The Battle of Puebla
Observed by
Typemultinational
Observances
  • Regional celebration in Mexico of battle victory.
  • Celebration in the United States of Mexican American culture and experiences.
  • Food, music, folkloric dancing
DateMay 5, 1862

Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for "fifth of May") is a regional holiday in Mexico, primarily celebrated in the state of Puebla, with some limited recognition in other parts of Mexico.[1][2] The holiday commemorates the Mexican army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín.[3][4] The outnumbered Mexicans defeated a much better-equipped French army that had not been defeated in almost 50 years.[5]

Cinco de Mayo is not "an obligatory federal holiday" in Mexico, but rather a holiday that can be observed voluntarily.[6][7]

While Cinco de Mayo has limited significance nationwide in Mexico, the date is observed in the United States and other locations around the world as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride.[8] A common misconception in the United States is that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico's Independence Day,[9] which actually is September 16 (dieciséis de septiembre in Spanish),[10] the most important national patriotic holiday in Mexico.[11]

History

In 1861, Mexico ceased making interest payments to its main creditors. In response, in late 1861, France (and other European countries) attacked Mexico to try to force payment of this debt. France decided that it would try to take over and occupy Mexico. France was successful at first in its invasion; however, on May 5, 1862, at the city of Puebla, Mexican forces were able to defeat an attack by the larger French army. In the Battle of Puebla, the Mexicans were led by General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín. Although the Mexican army was victorious over the French at Puebla, the victory only delayed the French advance on Mexico City; a year later, the French occupied Mexico. The French occupying forces placed Maximilian I, Emperor of Mexico on the throne of Mexico in 1864. The French, under U.S. pressure, eventually withdrew in 1866-1867. Maximilian was deposed by President Benito Juarez and executed, five years after the Battle of Puebla.

History of observance

Cinco de Mayo dancers greeted by President George W. Bush.

According to a paper published by the UCLA Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture about the origin of the observance of Cinco de Mayo in the United States, the modern American focus on the people of the world that day first started in California in the 1860s in response to the resistance to French rule in Mexico.[12] The 2007 paper notes that "The holiday, which has been celebrated in California continuously since 1863, is virtually ignored in Mexico."[12]

Observances

Mexico

The holiday of Cinco de Mayo is primarily a regional holiday in Mexico. There is some limited recognition of the holiday in other parts of the country.[13] For the most part the celebrations combine food, music, and dancing.

In Mexico City, like the rest of the Mexican capitals, all the young men who serve the military services pledge allegiance to the Mexican national flag and the institutions that it represents.[citation needed]

United States

Cinco de Mayo performers at the White House

In the United States, Cinco de Mayo has taken on a significance beyond that in Mexico.[12][14][15][16] The date is perhaps best recognized in the United States as a date to celebrate the culture and experiences of Americans of Mexican ancestry, much as St. Patrick's Day, Oktoberfest, and the Chinese New Year are used to celebrate those of Irish, German, and Chinese ancestry respectively. Similar to those holidays, Cinco de Mayo is observed by many Americans regardless of ethnic origin. Celebrations tend to draw both from traditional Mexican symbols, such as the Virgen de Guadalupe, and from prominent figures of Mexican descent in the United States, including César Chávez.[17] To celebrate, many display Cinco de Mayo banners while school districts hold special events to educate pupils about its historical significance. Special events and celebrations highlight Mexican culture, especially in its music and regional dancing. Examples include baile folklórico and mariachi demonstrations held annually at the Plaza del Pueblo de Los Angeles, near Olvera Street. Commercial interests in the United States have capitalized on the celebration, advertising Mexican products and services, with an emphasis on beverages,[18] foods, and music.[19][20]

Elsewhere

Cinco de Mayo celebration in St. Paul, Minnesota

Events tied to Cinco de Mayo also occur outside Mexico and the United States. For example, a sky-diving club near Vancouver in Canada holds a Cinco de Mayo skydiving event.[21] In the Cayman Islands, in the Caribbean, there is an annual Cinco de Mayo air guitar competition.[22] As far away as the island of Malta, in the Mediterranean Sea, revelers are encouraged to drink Mexican beer on May 5.[23]

  • Bob Dylan's song "Isis" references the date at the very beginning by narrating the title's character marriage, with the lyrics "on the fifth day of May...".
  • The band War had a minor hit with a track called "Cinco de Mayo", from their 1982 album Outlaw.
  • Ween refers to Cinco de Mayo in the song "Buenas Tardes Amigo".
  • The waltzing song "Mexico" from Cake's Prolonging the Magic album mentions Cinco de Mayo.
  • Fighting game Art of Fighting 3: The Path of the Warrior, set in the fictional Mexican-American city of Glasshill, has one stage called "Cinco de Mayo", which draws clear inspiration from this event (this is the only stage in the game to have no background music; instead, the sound of the parade running at the stage's background serves as the stage's theme).
  • Herb Alpert recorded a song called "Cinco de Mayo", which was the B-side of his hit "Spanish Flea".[24]
  • Liz Phair recorded a song called "Cinco de Mayo".

See also

References

  1. ^ [1] Retrieved February 6 2009.
  2. ^ "The anniversary of the victory is celebrated only sporadically in Mexico" - National Geographic Accessed Dec. 4, 2007
  3. ^ National Geographic: Defeat of French forces by Mexican Army Retrived February 6, 2009.
  4. ^ Library of Congress (U.S.A.) Declaration Retrieved February 6, 2009.
  5. ^ [2] Retrieved February 6, 2009.
  6. ^ List of Public and Bank Holidays in Mexico April 14, 2008. This list indicates that Cinco de Mayo is not a dia feriado obligatorio ("obligatory holiday"), but is instead a holiday that can be voluntarily observed.
  7. ^ Cinco de Mayo is not a federal holiday in México Accessed May 5, 2009
  8. ^ Statement by Mexican Consular official Accessed May 8, 2007.
  9. ^ Adam Brooks. "Is Cinco De Mayo Really Mexico's Independence Day?". NBC 11 News. Retrieved 2008-09-18.
  10. ^ [3] Retrieved February 6, 2009.
  11. ^ [4] Retrieved Feb 6, 2009.
  12. ^ a b c Southern California Quarterly "Cinco de Mayo's First Seventy-Five Years in Alta California: From Spontaneous Behavior to Sedimented Memory, 1862 to 1937" Spring 2007 (see American observation of Cinco de Mayo started in California) accessed Oct 30, 2007. See also History of observance of Cinco de Mayo in United States accessed May 9, 2009. Cite error: The named reference "UCLA" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  13. ^ "[Cinco de Mayo] is primarily a regional holiday celebrated in the Mexican state capital city of Puebla and through out the state of Puebla, with some limited recognition in other parts of Mexico." Accessed May 5, 2007
  14. ^ "Cinco de Mayo has become more of [an American] holiday than a Mexican one." accessed May 5, 2007
  15. ^ "Cinco de Mayo has become a day for celebrating Mexican culture in the United States, and celebrations there easily outshine those in Mexico." Accessed May 8, 2007
  16. ^ "Today, the holiday is celebrated more in the United States than in Mexico"Accessed Oct. 30, 2007
  17. ^ In some locations with significant non-Mexican hispanic communities, such as Florida, the celebration has grown to include non-Mexicans. Ahorre.com Accessed May 8, 2007.
  18. ^ "[Cinco de Mayo] gives us an opportunity ... to really get a jump-start on the summer beer-selling season" New York Times Business section; May 2, 2003. Accessed Oct. 30, 2007
  19. ^ "From my perspective as a marketing professional, Cinco de Mayo has morphed into a national holiday designed by Fifth Avenue to sell alcohol and excite consumership around a party-type theme." Accessed May 5, 2007.
  20. ^ "Cinco de Mayo is not just a fiesta anymore, the gringos have taken it on as a good sales pitch." Smithsonian Institution paper Accessed May 8, 2007. "It's a commercial entry point for people who want to penetrate the Latino market," said Felix Gutierrez, a journalism professor at the University of Southern California's Annenberg School for Communication in Los Angeles." Ahorre.com Accessed May 8, 2007.
  21. ^ "Cinco de Mayo Skydiving Boogie" Accessed 2008-05-05.
  22. ^ Cayman Cinco de Mayo air guitar Accessed 2008-05-05.
  23. ^ Celebration in Malta. Accessed 2008-05-05.
  24. ^ [5]
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