Cinco de mayo

Continuing on the holiday theme… I forgot to mention that May 1st was el día del trabajo, or Labor Day. It was yet another school holiday for Jade.

As far as Cinco de mayo is concerned, let me start by saying that it does not commemorate Mexico’s Independence, which is September 16th. Cinco de mayo celebrates the Battle of Puebla (May 5, 1862) and is not a major holiday in Mexico except in the city of Puebla. For Chicanos in the United States, Cinco de mayo has a different meaning besides an excuse for Mexican restaurants and the makers of Corona to host a huge party.

The Mexican government accrued a significant debt during its tumultuous beginnings. Spain, England, and France sent military troops to Mexico to collect their payment, but Benito Juarez, Mexico’s first president, refused to repay the Europeans. While Spanish and English troops returned home, Napoleon III ordered French troops to seize the port city of Veracruz and eventually advance to Mexico City.

A superior French army of 6,000 troops met with a well fortified, but smaller, Mexican army of 4,500 troops in Puebla. In the end, General Ignacio Zaragoza led the Mexicans to victory, loosing only 80 soldiers in battle with 130 wounded. The French suffered much greater losses: 460 dead and 300 wounded. Needless to say, Napoleon III sent 29,000 additional troops to finish the job, captured Mexico City, and installed Maximilian, his brother-in-law, as the ruler. Five years later, Mexican forces recaptured Mexico and executed Maximilian.

To many, the significance of the Battle of Puebla lies in its legendary display of heroism against the tyranny of European imperialists. It is like a modern-day David and Goliath story, with the Latino underdogs teaching the “superior” European big shots a thing or two. Lately, Cinco de mayo has become a day of ethnic pride for Mexican immigrants and Americans of Mexican heritage. Unfortunately, the significance of this historic day is largely unknown, even to students of Mexican families living in Mexican communities.

In Morelia, only the public library was closed. If Cinco de mayo wasn’t on a Saturday this year, Jade probably would have even had to go to school. Cinco de mayo in Mexico is the equivalent of St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland – little fanfare in the countries of origin, but much to celebrate in the United States.

P.S. As with all of the content in this blog, I have tried to consult more than one source to ensure as much accuracy as possible. However, don’t take my word for it – take it upon yourself to research the topic.