Around Cinco de Mayo, the fifth of May, you might see many Mexican flags, TV commercials advocating Mexican food or drinks, and many little bursts of Mexican pride and celebration. But what really is it celebrating? Many people think that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico’s Independence Day. While Mexico’s Independence Day is on September 16, May 5 still holds a special event in Mexico’s history. Cinco de Mayo is the anniversary of Mexico’s victory over the French in 1862 in the Battle of Puebla. The Battle of Puebla Between 1861 and 1867, Mexico was going through a French intervention in its territory. At that time, Benito Juarez, an indigenous Zapotec, and lawyer, was elected President. Mexico was in financial difficulty due to “internal strife” and owed major payments to European countries, France, Britain, and Spain. All the countries sent their armies to Veracruz, Mexico prompting repayment, but through some negotiation, that Britain and Spain withdraw their forces. Differently, France did not comply and found an opportunity to start an empire on the Mexican land, as they were ruled by Napoleon III. His huge, overpowering army stormed through Veracruz, causing President Juarez and his government to retreat. After the easy success, the French under General Charles Latrille de Lorencez decided to attack Puebla in Oaxaca with 6,000 troops. Meanwhile, in new headquarters, President Juarez pulled together around 2,000 troops to protect Puebla, most of them being indigenous or of mixed ancestry, to be led by General Ignacio Zaragoza. The Mexicans were poorly supplied when they prepared for the assault at Puebla. Finally, on May 5, 1862, General Lorencez commanded his heavily armed troops to attack. They battled from daybreak to the early evening, where the French finally retreated. The French lost up to 500 soldiers, while the Mexicans had lost less than a 100. This left a symbolic victory for Mexico as in this battle they were the underdog who managed to pull through. The French Intervention in Mexico ended when the resistance got stronger after the victory and also the support of the United States pushed France to withdraw. Then, the Napoleon appointed emperor, Austrian Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian was executed by Juárez’s forces. Celebrations Even though Cinco de Mayo is a battle in Mexico’s history, it isn’t widely celebrated through Mexico. It is mostly celebrated In Puebla and other places in Oaxaca. Although, it isn’t uncommon to be recognized in other parts of Mexico, with festivals, food, battle reenactments, and military parades. In the United States, it is said to be more commonly recognized by Mexican-American or Chicano communities. It has become a day to appreciate Mexican culture with festivals with performances from Mariachis, Baile Folklorico, and Baile Azteca. Many people go out to eat at a Mexican restaurant or have a small celebration, while many choose to ignore the anniversary of the battle. Cinco de Mayo is also a means of profit for many industries. A fun fact is that beer companies sell more beer during Cinco de Mayo than the Super Bowl or St. Patrick's day, making $600 million in 2013. In conclusion, Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Battle of Puebla where the Juarez’s troops defeated the French. Through an epic battle where the underdog conquered the powerful, it left a recognizable image on Mexico. This ended up being a symbolic representation of the strength that Mexico and what its indigenous population had in the midst of a European siege. Whether one celebrates or not is ok, but it is a plus that one knows its meaning as the day nears.
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