As promised
, here’s what I know about Cinco de Mayo, and why I chose to talk about it in the month of September.
Cinco de Mayo seems to be mistaken for the Mexican Indepence Day which was celebrated yesterday (I know, a day late and a dollar short. 8-\ ). In truth, Cinco de Mayo is a minor Mexican holiday commemorating the Battle of Puebla where the much smaller Mexican forces defeated the French army in 1862.[1]
Why Cinco de Mayo is misunderstood for a celebration of Mexican Independence can be found in Mexico’s troubled history. First, after declaring it’s independence in 1810, it took Mexico another 11 years to get Spain to officially acknowledge it’s sovereignity .[2] Then, until Benito Juarez came into power in 1855, the leadership and the government of Mexico constantly changed. During these changes, Texas revolted angainst Mexico in 1836, and Mexico lost alot of territory to the United States in the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) .[3]
While it took the Mexican forces another five years to defeat the French Army, and depose Emperor Maximilian of Austria, the initial victory at the Battle of Peubla served "to develop a needed sense of national unity."[4] With that in mind, it would be easy to confuse the difference between establishing a national identity versus declaring national independence. ¡Viva de Mexico!
[1] The History of Cinco de Mayo—April 25, 2007, August 27, 2007, (http://www.mexonline.com/cinco-de-mayo.htm).
[2] Mexico: History and Culture—2006, September 17, 2007, (http://www.geographia.com/mexico/mexicohistory.htm).
[3] Mexico: History, Geography, Government, and Culture—2006, September 17, 2007, (http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0107779.html).
[4] The History of Cinco de Mayo—April 25, 2007, August 27, 2007 (http://www.mexonline.com/cinco-de-mayo.htm).
Cinco de Mayo
