The fifth of May is always accompanied by an outbreak of American-based Mexican propaganda. Bars have deals on tequila shots while the internet explodes with clever captions such as “Drinko de Mayo” (FYI: that is not sarcastic, I actually laughed a little the first time I saw that phrase) and people are eating Mexican food to their hearts’ content. The problem, however, is that most people who are celebrating the holiday are doing so for the wrong reasons. Some of them are unclear as to why this holiday even exists. Let me give you a few facts about Cinco de Mayo so you may continue celebrating in a slightly more appropriate way next year.
1. It is not Mexican Independence Day
This holiday signifies the time when the Mexican army in one city, Puebla, defeated the French army that was trying to invade. It was a battle against the French taking control of Mexico, not gaining independence from Spain. Mexico’s independence day had already happened more than half a century earlier.
2. This holiday is not really celebrated in Mexico
The city where the battle occurred, Puebla, is the only place where there is a real celebration. The rest of the country acknowledges it, but banks, offices and stores are not closed, nor do schools take a day off in commemoration of the victory. There are parades and parties and other celebrations in Puebla, as it was a day of great pride for the city and obviously the country as a whole, but eventually the celebrations dwindled down to remain just in this one city. The US celebrates it much more than Mexico.
3. The battle didn’t end the war
The Battle of Puebla was definitely important -- there is no way to deny that. The Mexican army was extremely outnumbered by the French army, so it appeared they would be destroyed and France would move onto the next town, yet the Mexicans stood their ground and forced them back. However, this battle occurred in 1862; the war didn’t end until 1867. Again, it was a very important victory symbolically, and yet it was not, by any means, the only determining factor in the eventual victory of Mexico several years later.
As neighbors, the US uses this holiday as an excuse to do activities we consider “Mexican,” such as drinking margaritas and eating tacos. While margaritas and tacos are consumed in Mexico, no one in the US stops to actually appreciate the significance of the holiday. We should remember the bravery of 2,000 soldiers who defended their country against 5,000 better-trained Frenchmen because they believed so strongly that they should be free from European influence.
They went to fight for their nation in the name of retaining their own identity. They refused to be bullied, and they easily could have been killed for their actions, but they prevailed and eventually, the country they fought for managed to drive the foreigners out. So, if you celebrated ‘drinko de mayo’ the other night, I hope you proposed a toast for those forgotten men. And if it slipped your mind, do it next year.
