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Many Americans celebrate the Cinco de Mayo, but how many actually know the story of this holiday?
Contrary to popular belief, Cinco de Mayo does not mark the independence of Mexico, celebrated on September 16th. It is supposed to commemorate the Battle of Puebla, which opposed the French and Mexican armies in 1862.
In the long and rich history of Mexico, the Battle of Puebla is generally considered a relatively minor event. But his legacy continues a century and a half later, especially in the United States.
Beat an empire
After the independence of Spain in 1821 from Mexico, other nations were reluctant to recognize the autonomy of this nascent country. In the following decades, Mexico lost much of its land to the United States and entered a period of economic and political instability.
This was punctuated by a civil war in the late 1850s that led to Benito Juárez, Mexico's first indigenous president, taking power in 1861.
One of the first acts of Juarez was to cancel the repayments of loans contracted abroad to protect Mexico's economy in difficulty. This angered Britain, Spain and France and prompted them to send a joint expeditionary force to Mexico. However, Britain and Spain withdrew quickly when it became apparent that the French sovereign Napoleon III was more interested in overthrowing the new Mexican government.
The Battle of Puebla took place on May 5, 1862, when the Mexican Army, led by Commander General Ignacio Zaragoza, repulsed the French Army's attacks on the city of Puebla, located about 70 miles southeast of Mexico City.
It was a modest but inspiring victory for Mexico. Four days later, on May 9, 1862, Juárez declared that Cinco de Mayo was a national holiday.
Even though the French ended up defeating the Mexican army and taking control of the country under the second short-lived Mexican Empire, which lasted from 1864 to 1867, the victory at the Battle of Puebla sent a powerful message to the rest of the world .
The Mexican army was twice as numerous as the French troops, so Mexico proved to be a formidable opponent worthy of international respect. And the fact that the country was run by an indigenous president had a special symbolic meaning.
An unintended impact on the history of the United States?
The Battle of Puebla may also have had an unintended impact on the United States, which at the time was involved in the civil war.
The sociologist David Hayes, author of "El Cinco de Mayo: An American Tradition," argued that by beating the French at the Battle of Puebla, the Mexicans prevented the French army from continuing its path towards north, towards the US border, where they would have probably helped the country. Confederation. It is therefore possible that the victory of Mexico at the Battle of Puebla has changed the course of American history.
The Battle of Puebla would have been celebrated in the state of California, which still maintained close ties with Mexico. Aligned with the Union, the citizens of the state considered victory as a defense of freedom.
For almost a century, few people in the United States have celebrated Cinco de Mayo. But it resurfaced as an important holiday in California in the mid-twentieth century, triggered by the growing movement of Chicano. The story of David versus Goliath reflected the struggle for civil rights.
Businesses cash
The widespread commercialization of Cinco de Mayo occurred in the 1980s and 1990s. The beer companies, in particular, targeted Americans of Mexican descent, urging them to celebrate their legacy with Coronas, Bud Lights and Dos Equis.
The commodification of Mexican and American-Mexican heritage followed, and today's revelers buy piñatas, Mexican flag props, sombreros, and costumes that can go on the offensive.
As more and more Americans – regardless of their ethnic heritage – participate in the festivities, not many people know what Cinco de Mayo commemorates. A poll found that only 10% of Americans could describe the origins of their holidays.
The complex heritage of Cinco de Mayo reminds us that the past has been made meaningful in different ways by different people.
For Mexicans – especially those who live outside the modern city of Puebla – vacations are of minor importance, they are minimal compared to much larger national and religious holidays, such as the day of the day. Independence of Mexico and the Day of the Dead. However, reconstructions of the Battle of Puebla are still taking place in Puebla, as well as in Peñon de los Baños, Mexico City.
For many Mexican Americans, this day is particularly important as an opportunity to celebrate their common heritage. But considering the rampant commercialization of the holidays, some Americans of Mexican origin have expressed ambivalence about the celebration.
And for Americans without Mexican ancestry, vacations simply seem to be an excuse to drink margaritas.
Kirby Farah, Lecturer in Anthropology, University of Southern California – Dornsife College of Arts, Arts and Sciences
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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