Holiday(Cinco de Mayo)

My holiday that I do not celebrate is Cinco de Mayo which means fifth of May. By many it is believed to be Mexico’s Independence Day which it is not. It is the day that the Mexicans defeated the French in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. It is celebrated a lot in the U.S. as Mexican pride and heritage, but in Puebla it is more of a celebration of the unlikely winning of the battle.  Oddly it is only somewhat celebrated in Mexico and more in Mexican-American communities their big day in Mexico is their Independence Day which is September 16.

For this holiday they celebrate with food, dancing, and music. In Puebla they actually march down the street in uniforms, and reenact the battle. At Cinco de Mayo events you find a lot of Mexican symbols such as Virgen de Guadalupe and César Chávez.  More in the U.S. at Cinco de Mayo celebrations you will find Mexican flags, balloons, decorations, Mexican folk music or Mariachi bands with traditional Mexican dancing. Also the best part the traditional Mexican food such as enchiladas, tacos, and chips and salsa.

I choose this holiday because I’ve always heard of it and there was stuff at the school for it last year. I got the good food but really had no idea on what it was really for like most people that don’t know much about it I just figured it was Mexico’s Independence Day. So I figured I would research it and find out what it really was. The main thing that I think is odd about it is that they do not have a different name for it except May fifth you would think it would be like Puebla day or something. I’m glad I now know a little more about it, and that it isn’t Mexico’s Independence Day.