WRITTEN BY MELINA DE LA CRUZ AND NAM THAI
In Mexican history, Cinco de Mayo is a minor holiday. Cinco de Mayo, or “Fifth of May” in English, is a holiday celebrating Mexico’s victory in the Battle of Puebla against the French forces on May 5, 1862. The holiday is commonly mistaken as Mexico’s independence day, which is celebrated on September 16. In 1862, French forces gathered troops to invade Mexico and marched toward the small town of Puebla in central Mexico seeking control. On May 5, 1862, the Mexican army battled against the French forces in the Battle of Puebla. While this holiday is very present in the state of Puebla, Mexico, it is not celebrated as much in the rest of the country. America adopted this Mexican holiday in the 1860s to help raise money and recruit men to aid in the continuing fight against the French. It is said that thanks to Jeffrey M. Pilcher, a professor of history at the University of Toronto, Cinco De Mayo is very present in The United States. Some ways to celebrate Cinco de Mayo is to eat popular Mexican food like mole poblano, white rice, nopales salad, fried beans, and molotes de plátano (stuffed plantain patties). While this is a primarily Mexican holiday, it is also an acknowledgment of culture and freedom, bringing different people and families together in celebration. Comments are closed.
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AuthorDana Barbee Archives
May 2023
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