Today is May 5, or Cinco de Mayo. All across America, people are celebrating this “holiday” in different ways. But have you ever wondered what Cinco de Mayo is all about?
Cinco de Mayo is a regional holiday in Mexico, celebrated primarily in the state of Puebla. 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.
The outnumbered Mexicans defeated a much better-equipped French army that had not been defeated in almost 50 years.
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. However, a common misconception in the United States is that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico’s Independence Day, which actually is September 16 (dieciséis de septiembre in Spanish), the most important national patriotic holiday in Mexico.
In the United States, Cinco de Mayo has taken on a significance beyond that in Mexico. 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.
Thank you Wikipedia for that awesome information.
Tags: America, Cinco de Mayo, Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin, Mexico, Puebla, United States