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Cinco De Mayo: United States
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Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in Mexico, and ... in regions of the United States with sizeable communities of Mexican origin, including the Southwest, southern California, and other areas. Particularly well known is the celebration in Los Angeles, California, on the streets outside City Hall. Festivities often include sports events, parades, mariachi music and dancing, picnics featuring Mexican food, and beauty contests. Cinco de Mayo is sometimes confused with Mexican Independence Day (September 16), which commemorates the anniversary of the day in 1810 when revolutionary priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla issued a proclamation declaring Mexico independent from Spain.
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Like other ethnic holidays in the United States, such as St. Patrick's Day, Cinco de Mayo has become more popular in the U.S. than where it originated. The event commemorates the May 5, 1862, defeat of French troops by a Mexican army in Puebla, Mexico. Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day, but according to Nancy Varelas, student director for the Office of Hispanic Affairs, Cinco de Mayo is important to the United States ecause thanks to the Mexican army defeating the French, France was not able to advance and defeat the United States as well. When they later invaded the U.S., the U.S. had built up a strong army by then.
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Within the United States of America, "Cinco de Mayo" is mistaken for México's Independence Day. However, "El Grito de Dolores" was a proclamation calling for México's independence from Spain on September 16 in the year 1810 by Father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, in the small town of Dolores, Guanajuato. México gained its independence from Spain after 11 years of armed struggle in the year of 1821. México's Independence Day is celebrated on September 15. However, in México, as well in the United States, the festivities extend to September 16 with a parade.
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Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican national holiday to remember the military victory of Mexico over France in the Battle of Puebla on the 5th of May, 1862. An army of poorly armed peasants was able to hold off the seasoned French troops at a mountain pass near the town of Puebla, and eventually drove them into retreat. This victory became an inspiration to later resistance which continued until the European forces were driven out, and is remembered as the day that Mexicans stood up to the European powers. In the United States, it has become a day to ... remember Mexican (and Latin American) heritage.
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Cinco de Mayo is frequently regarded as the Mexican equivalent of the United States 4th of July... this is factually incorrect. In actuality, it is simply the equivalent of the 5th of May and nothing more. However, a number of important things have occurred in Mexican history on the 5th of May throughout the years.
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Today Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the United States are much more popular than many places in Mexico. Border towns in Texas, and California with large populations Latin-American communities have parades, street fairs, and festivals.
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