Cinco de Mayo is only a minor holiday in most of the country. It is celebrated mainly in the Mexican state of Puebla. But for many Mexican Americans, Cinco de Mayo has become an important celebration of cultural pride.
Remembering History: What Happened on May 5th?
In the late 1800s, Mexico was in big trouble. The treasury was nearly bankrupt after fifteen years of civil war and two years fighting the United States. The country owed money to many European countries. The new President of Mexico — a Zapotec man named Benito Juárez — had to halt the debt payments because there was no money to complete them.
Angry with Juárez’s decision, Britain, Spain, and France sent troops to Veracruz, Mexico. They demanded the money owed to them. Luckily, President Juárez was able to reach an agreement with Britain and Spain. But Emperor Napoleon III of France refused to talk and settle the debts. He saw this as an opportunity to grow his empire. He soon sent troops to claim Mexican land for France. This forced President Juárez into a war that Mexico was not prepared for: the Franco-Mexican War.
President Juárez quickly rounded up a ragtag army of 2,000 men. They were led by Texas-born General Ignacio Zaragoza. The army moved to the small town of Puebla de Los Angeles in the Mexican state of Puebla. The soldiers secured the town and waited for the French to arrive.
From dawn until dusk on May 5, 1862, the battle raged. After three unsuccessful attacks, the French were surrounded by Mexican soldiers. They attacked after the French ran out of ammunition, or bullets. The Mexican army won, and the French retreated from the battlefield with almost 500 of their soldiers killed. On the other side, fewer than 100 of the Mexican soldiers had been lost.
The Battle of Puebla was seen as a great success. It boosted the spirits of the Mexican resistance movement. Despite the challenges they faced, the Mexican troops had achieved a small but inspiring victory against a strong European power. The Franco-Mexican War finally ended in 1867 when President Juárez’s forces drove the French out of Mexico.
What Does Cinco de Mayo Represent?
The Battle of Puebla is still remembered today with Cinco de Mayo. For many Mexicans, May 5th is like any other day in the year. But in the state of Puebla, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated with military parades, speeches, battle reenactments, and festivals. In the United States, Cinco de Mayo acts as a more general celebration of Mexican heritage and culture.
Cinco de Mayo became a major Mexican American holiday because of Chicano activists in the 1960s. They saw Cinco de Mayo as a way to encourage Mexican Americans to celebrate their heritage. They were inspired by how the Mexican soldiers overcame great odds in the Battle of Puebla. To show their pride, Chicano activists began holding small Cinco de Mayo celebrations. Over time, they grew into the large festivals held today.
How is Cinco de Mayo Celebrated Today?
Many Mexican American communities throw parties, parades, and festivals to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Mariachi and other Mexican folk bands play music, and baile folklórico dancers often perform. These events highlight parts of Mexican culture that come from Puebla, like the colorful skirt-and-blouse style of clothing called China poblana or the spice-and-chocolate dish called mole poblano. Some of the largest Cinco de Mayo festivals are held in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston.
Over the past fifty years, Cinco de Mayo has spread from Mexican American communities across the United States. The holiday has introduced Mexican culture to a wider audience. Many students learn about the holiday in school and through public festivals. People with and without Mexican heritage look forward to Cinco de Mayo as a day to celebrate Mexican food, music, clothing, and other traditions.
The meaning of Cinco de Mayo has truly evolved over time. It started as a battle in Puebla and later became a holiday about Mexican culture. It has traveled from Puebla to the United States and beyond! No matter where you live, Cinco de Mayo stands as an important day for Mexican people around the world to connect with their communities and celebrate their heritage.
Permission line: "Celebrating Cinco de Mayo" by Sanjana Chetia. Copyright © 2019 by CommonLit, Inc. This text is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.
Unless otherwise noted, this content is licensed under theCC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license
Notes
AllDefinitionsFootnotes
the money a government has to spend and the people in charge of looking after it
people who lived in the southern part of Mexico
Heritage (noun) : the background from which one comes
traditional Mexican dances that emphasize local culture
Read Aloud
Annotate
Translate
Assessment Questions
Show Less
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
PART A: What is the central idea of the text?
A. The Battle of Puebla successfully ended the Franco-Mexican War.
B. Mexico's debt during the 1800s had a negative impact on the country and its culture.
C. President Juárez created Cinco de Mayo and is responsible for the holiday's traditions.
D. Cinco de Mayo has changed over time but continues to be an important celebration of Mexican culture.
1 answer
The central idea of the text is:
D. Cinco de Mayo has changed over time but continues to be an important celebration of Mexican culture.
This option encapsulates the overall message of the text, which details the historical significance of the Battle of Puebla and how Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a celebration of Mexican heritage, particularly within Mexican American communities.
