Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo is not a celebration of Mexico's independence, though it would seem to be the only day they don't celebrate independence from someone.  

When I was living in Mexico there was yet another parade in downtown Manzanillo.  I asked one of my Mexican acquaintances what the celebration was.  He told me it was for independence.  I told him we already celebrated that a couple of months back, in September.  He shrugged his shoulders, smiled, and told me that was celebrating independence from Spain.  I told him it seemed to me they have an awful lot of celebrations for independence.  He laughed and said, "Everybody wants us!  Can you blame them?"

So, it is no surprise that we confuse the 5th of May with an Independence Day celebration.  It is, in fact, a commemoration of an 1862 victory of the Mexican army over the French at the Battle of Puebla.  In Mexico the only people that hold this holiday in great esteem are the locals around Puebla.  Others across the country celebrate it, but Puebla holds it dear.  We, and our Mexican brethren here in the U.S., have turned this minor holiday into a time of festival and celebration of Mexican heritage and culture.  Somewhere along the line historical fact took a down day and the truth of Cinco de Mayo was blurred.

But, ya gotta love the Mexicans.  Anything for a party!

In the words of General Ignacio Zaragoza Sequin, in a single line letter to President Juarez after defeating the French at Puebla:

"Las armas nacionales se han cubierto de gloria"

("The national arms have been covered with glory.")