Christian Peterson
reporter.riverbendnews@gmail.com
Cinco de Mayo is Spanish for the Fifth of May and is an annual celebration held on May 5. The celebration is in honor of the Mexican victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. However, since then, the holiday has exploded in popularity, especially in the United States, and is more of a celebration of Mexican-Americans than the historical battle. When the second French intervention in Mexico happened, the nation was in a rough spot. The country had just suffered through two major wars: the Mexican-American War from 1846 to 1848 and the Reform War from 1858 to 1861. These wars happening so close to each other had almost bankrupted the nation, and on July 17, 1861, Mexican President Benito Juarez issued a moratorium on all foreign debt payments for two years. This caused multiple European countries, including France, Spain and the United Kingdom, to join together and send forces to Mexico to demand their money back. France decided to push a little further, though, and under the guidance of Napoleon III, they tried to use it as an opportunity to establish themselves in Mexico. Britain and Spain withdrew peacefully, but France remained. The French army began pushing into Mexico, eventually making it to Puebla, where they were greeted with heavy resistance. The French army, which numbered between 6,500 and 8,000, faced off against the Mexican army, numbered 4,000, at the forts of Loreto and Guadalupe. Despite the significant number differences, the Mexican army decisively won the battle, pushing the French army back. This victory, while uniting the country, was short-lived as, just a year later, the French army returned with a force of 30,000, capturing Mexico City and installing a new emperor. This victory was also short-lived, lasting only three years. The reason for the short-lived triumph of the French was the United States. Up until that point, the U.S. had been embroiled in the American Civil War; now that the war was over, the U.S. began providing support to Mexico. France, who was on the verge of war with Prussia and was already dealing with considerable resistance in Mexico, seeing the possibility of the United States getting involved, decided it would be best to retreat from Mexico, ending their attempted conquest of the nation. Since the battle, the celebration has grown to be a unique holiday across Mexico and into the United States. In the State of Puebla, where the battle took place, May 5 is an official holiday where there is no work or school. While it is not considered an official national holiday, all schools are closed in Mexico on May 5. On top of that, it is also considered a full holiday in the neighboring State of Veracruz. Meanwhile, in the United States, the celebration has only grown in popularity. It first started in California in 1863. According to “Cinco de Mayo: The Real Story” by David E. Hayes-Bautista, “Far up in the gold country town of Columbia (now Columbia State Park), Mexican miners were so overjoyed at the news that they spontaneously fired off rifle shots and fireworks, sang patriotic songs and made impromptu speeches.” This was the first recorded celebration in the United States, but it has only grown from there. As of 2006, the number of official celebrations in the United States numbered 150. Just a year earlier, in 2005, Congress issued a concurrent resolution calling on the President of the United States to issue a proclamation honoring Cinco de Mayo. In fact, in 2023, The Washington Post even claimed that Cinco de Mayo was an American holiday with Mexican roots and not necessarily a Mexican holiday. The celebrations vary across the Americas but share a few similarities. Many school districts will hold special events to educate students on the historical significance of the day. Specifically in the Mexican area, there will be baile folkloric and mariachi demonstrations. In the United States, many have capitalized on the popularity of the holiday. In fact, in 2013, more than $600 million worth of alcohol was purchased for Cinco de Mayo, which is more than either the Super Bowl or St. Patrick’s Day. There is also a push to purchase Mexican products and Mexican-themed items. There are other popular celebrations around as well. For example, in Vancouver, there is a Cinco de Mayo skydiving event. In the Cayman Islands, there is an annual Cinco de Mayo air guitar competition. More celebrations can be found in Cape Town, South Africa, London, New Zealand, Lagos, Nigeria, Paris, France and even in Osaka, Japan.