Cinco de Mayo (translates to English as 5th of May) is a Mexican holiday that is celebrated more widely in the United States than in Mexico. http://www.history.com/minisite.do?content_type=Minisite_Generic&content_type_id=767&display_order=4&mini_id=1099 Cinco de Mayo It is a celebration of the victory over French forces in the Battle of Pubela in Mexico on this date in 1862.http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/cinco-de-mayo The day is marked with food, parades, festivals, dancing and music. It is a time to celebrate the achievements and experiences of those of Mexican heritage.
The Battle of Puebla lasted for 4 hours. The Mexican forces were led by General Ignacio Zaragosa and the Mexican forces defeated the French forces. In addition to being a source of national pride for Mexico, the battle is significant because it was the last time any foreign government attacked a territory in North America.
Cinco de Mayo is one of over 300 Mexican festivals. It is not a major holiday in fact it is not considered an official national holiday. Even though it is not widely observed in Mexico, it is celebrated in Puebla, the site of the 1862 battle. In Puebla, about 100 miles from Mexico City, it is commemorated with a parade, and a re-enactment of the battle; there is also an abundance of food, drink, music, dancing, and games with women wearing colorful traditional dresses.
Reportedly, the holiday was first observed in the United States in 1967 when a group of California State University students, concerned because there was no Chicano holiday, decided to observe Cinco de Mayo. They were endeavoring to get the university to begin a Chicano studies program, and thought that holding a Cinco de Mayo celebration would help their efforts. Since that time it has become a widely celebrated holiday across the United States.
A Sampling of Cinco de Mayo Celebrations, 2010
In Washington, DC, the 18th annual National Cinco de Mayo celebration will be held at the National Mall on May 2, 2010 from noon to 6 pm.http://www.marumontero.com/cinco.htm
At the El Pueblo historic monument on Ovlera Street in Los Angeles, California, USA, the 137th Cinco de Mayo celebration will be held in 2010. The actual festival will be held on May 1 and May 2 from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm.http://www.ci.la.ca.us/elp/
In Omaha, Nebraska, USA at the Plaza de La Raza (24th & N streets) the 2010 Cinco de Mayo celebration begins Friday, April 30 and lasts until Sunday, May 2.http://www.cincodemayoomaha.com/
Fiesta Atlanta is the Cinco de Mayo celebration in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, it is free and will be from 10 am to 7 pm on Sunday, May 2 at the Centennial Olympic Park Downtown Atlanta, Georgia.http://www.fiestaatlanta.com/
In Denver, Cinco de Mayo celebration will be held in 2010 on May 8 and 9, at the Civic Center Park in Denver, Colorado, USA from 10 am to 8 pm.http://www.denver.org/events/detail?e=440348630 http://cincodemayodenver.com/
Cinco de Mayo History and Celebrations
This video tells the origin and background of Cinco de Mayo. It describes the Battle of Puebla as well as celebrations of this festival in Puebla. The narrator points out that the holiday is celebrated more in the United States than in Mexico, in fact the largest celebration in the world is in Los Angeles, California in the U.S.
References
Fast Facts
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Celebrated annually on May 5
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Not an official national holiday in Mexico
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Marks the defeat of the French army by the Mexican militia at the Battle of Puebla in 1862
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Not Mexico's Independence Day
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Mexico's Independence Day is September 16
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Celebrated in the US since 1967
