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The holiday of Cinco De Mayo, The 5th Of May, commemorates the
victory of the Mexican militia over the French army at The Battle Of
Puebla in 1862. It is primarily a regional holiday celebrated in the Mexican
state capital city of Puebla and throughout the state of Puebla, with some
limited recognition in other parts of Mexico, and especially in U.S. cities
with a significant Mexican population. It is not, as many people think,
Mexico's Independence Day, which is actually September 16.
Setting The Stage
The battle at Puebla in 1862 happened at a violent and chaotic time in
Mexico's history. Mexico had finally gained independence from Spain in
1821 after a difficult and bloody struggle, and a number of internal
political takeovers and wars, including the Mexican-American War
(1846-1848) and the Mexican Civil War of 1858, had ruined the national
economy.
During this period of struggle Mexico had accumulated heavy
debts to several nations, including Spain, England and France,
who were demanding repayment. Similar debt to the U.S. was
previously settled after the Mexican-American War. France was
eager to expand its empire at that time, and used the debt
issue to move forward with goals of establishing its own
leadership in Mexico. Realizing France's intent of empire
expansion, Spain and England withdrew their support. When
Mexico finally stopped making any loan payments, France
took action on its own to install Napoleon III's relative,
Archduke Maximilian of Austria, as ruler of Mexico.
Mexico Confronts The Invasion
France invaded at the
gulf coast of Mexico
along the state of
Veracruz (see map) and
began to march toward
Mexico City, a distance
today of less than 600
miles. Although
American President
Abraham Lincoln was
sympathetic to
Mexico's cause, and for
which he is honored in
Mexico, the U.S. was involved in its own Civil War at the time and was
unable to provide any direct assistance.
Marching on toward Mexico City, the French army encountered strong
resistance near Puebla at the Mexican forts of Loreto and Guadalupe.
Lead by Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin, a smaller, poorly
armed militia estimated at 4,500 men were able to stop and defeat a well
outfitted French army of 6,500 soldiers, which stopped the invasion of the
country. The victory was a glorious moment for Mexican patriots, which at
the time helped to develop a needed sense of national unity, and is the
cause for the historical date's celebration.
Unfortunately, the victory was short lived. Upon hearing the bad news,
Napoleon III had found an excuse to send more troops overseas to try
and invade Mexico again, even against the wishes of the French populace.
30,000 more troops and a full year later, the French were eventually able
to depose the Mexican army, take over Mexico City and install Maximilian
as the ruler of Mexico.
Maximilian's rule of Mexico was also
short lived, from 1864 to 1867. With the
American Civil War now over, the U.S.
began to provide more political and
military assistance to Mexico to expel the
French, after which Maximilian was
executed by the Mexicans - his bullet
riddled shirt is kept at the museum at
Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City. So
despite the eventual French invasion of
Mexico City, Cinco de Mayo honors the bravery and victory of General
Zaragoza's smaller, outnumbered militia at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.
Today's Celebration
For the most part, the holiday of Cinco de Mayo is more of a regional
holiday in Mexico, celebrated most vigorously in the state of Puebla.
There is some limited recognition of the holiday throughout the country
with different levels of enthusiasm, but it's nothing like that found in
Puebla.
Celebrating Cinco de Mayo has become
increasingly popular along the U.S.-
Mexico border and in parts of the U.S.
that have a high population of people
with a Mexican heritage. In these areas
the holiday is a celebration of Mexican
culture, of food, music, beverage and
customs unique to Mexico.
Commercial interests in the United
States and Mexico have also had a hand in promoting the holiday, with
products and services focused on Mexican food, beverages and festivities,
with music playing a more visible role as well. Several cities throughout the
U.S. hold parades and concerts during the week following up to May 5th,
so that Cinco de Mayo has become a bigger holiday north of the border
than it is to the south, and being adopted into the holiday calendar of
more and more people every year.
[Sources: Encyclopedia Encarta, Encyclopedia Britanica, Prescott's
Mexico:1900, HistoryChannel.com, other sources. minor edits April 25,
2007]
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