Guacamole, mariachis, margaritas and tequila shots will all be the order of the day on the Cinco de Mayo (5th of May) as we celebrate a little known 1862 battle in Mexico that has become an American (and Canadian) tradition and a great excuse to enjoy the best of Mexican food and drink.
Cinco de Mayo is the Food and Beverage equivalent of a Hallmark Cards celebration. In fact a huge percentage of those celebrating actually think Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of Mexico’s Independence Day (which is on September 16th).
Even though Cinco de Mayo is mostly forgotten about in Mexico, let alone commemorated, “a party is a party” and as far as party’s go, Cinco de Mayo is a huge commercial success.
The Day of the Battle of Puebla – 5 de Mayo 1862
Mexico was enduring a particularly violent and chaotic time in their history. They had gained independence from Spain in 1821, however, struggles followed, including; internal politics and wars, the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848 and the Mexican Civil War of 1858. Financially Mexico had been brought to its knees by a crippling debt load backed by Spain, England and France. All of whom demanded repayment.
France, eager to expand its empire, used the debt as a way of trying to establish leadership in Mexico. The other two countries, Spain and England did not agree with the concept. But when Mexico stopped making their loan payments, France took action to try and install Archduke Maximilian of Austria as ruler of Mexico.
France landed at Veracruz which required a 600 mile march to Mexico City. At the time, the US were having their Civil War and were unable to help. At Puebla, the French were met with strong resistance from the Mexican forts of Loreto and Guadalupe. Despite the far superior French armaments, they were stopped by the Mexican troops and forced to withdraw.
The victory was used by Mexico to ignite a new level of patriotism and develop a much needed sense of national unity and was the cause for the historical date’s celebration.
“On that one glorious day, 5 de Mayo, 1862, the arms of the Supreme Government were covered with glory since the best army in the world were defeated by the first sons of Mexico.” – Government of Mexico
However, the victory was short lived as Napoleon sent more troops to Mexico and eventually installed Maximilian as the ruler of Mexico in 1864.
With troops available after the American Civil War, the US began to provide more help to Mexico and the French were eventually expelled from Mexico in 1867.
The Celebration
Mexican immigrants coming to the American southwest joined in the festivities with their fellow Mexican-Americans, already living in the United States (and without really knowing the story behind the holiday). Over time 5 de Mayo became more of an opportunity to celebrate Mexican ethnic identity rather than celebrate the actual battle itself. In Mexico, the celebration is still only a regional holiday throughout the state of Puebla and with a few limited events in other parts of Mexico.
The day is more widely celebrated in the United States than in Mexico with the largest Cinco de Mayo celebrations taking place in Los Angeles, California (which has the highest concentration of Mexican-origin population in the USA). The commercialization in the United States (to a willing audience) has been led mainly by Mexican food and beverage companies supported by music and dancing which play an important part in all of the celebrations. The result being that Cinco de Mayo has become a bigger holiday north of the border than it is to the south.
