Let's Celebrate Cinco de Mayo!

Cinco De Mayo is almost upon us! What party plans are you making for the holiday?

Holiday Origins

For those who don't know, Cinco de Mayo is Spanish for the 5th of May. The holiday actually began in Mexico after the Battle of Puebla, where French forces invaded Mexico and were defeated (albeit briefly) by a much smaller and less well-equipped Mexican army. The victory was so unexpected and so impressive that the May 5th, 1862 became a date to celebrate. Over the years, it has lost traction in Mexico and is mostly only truly celebrated in the town of Puebla itself. Other parts of the country may recognize the date, but festivals and parades are things of the past. Even so, the holiday lives on in America as a day to celebrate and honor Mexican heritage.

An American Celebration

But, wait. If this is a Mexican holiday, why is it celebrated in America? That question has a lot of different theories surrounding it, but no solid answers. The most popular theories are:

1. When the holiday first began, it was a huge deal in Mexico. As more and more people immigrated to America, they brought the love of the holiday with them. Although the holiday's popularity waned in Mexico over time, the tradition stayed strong in America.
2. The French invasion happened during a point in the American Civil War when the South and General Robert E. Lee were enjoying some degree of success. People surmise that Napoleon III's plan was to take Mexico and use it as a staging area to support the South and remove the Northern blockades around the Gulf of Mexico. The Battle of Puebla was a victory that stood as a symbol of France's inability to enact their plan. If France had been successful, the fate of the U.S. could have been very different.

The truth is, there is no definitive reason. Whyever it happened, the holiday caught on and now it's as much a part of American culture as St. Patrick's Day.

Celebrating Cinco de Mayo

Today in most Mexican-American communities, Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of Mexican heritage, ethnic consciousness and community solidarity. But like St. Patrick's Day, it's been taken up by those who have no connection to the heritage of its origins at all. For everyone else, it's a fun reason to sit around with friends, eat Mexican food and drink Mexican beer. And isn't that what any good holiday does? Actually transcend its original purpose and offer universal value?

So regardless of your race, culture or creed, don't hesitate to go to the closest Mexican restaurant, order a beer and enjoy some time with friends this May 5th. Just be sure to raise a glass in honor of our neighbors to the South as well as those of Mexican heritage living here in the states. It's time to show your community solidarity and celebrate Cinco de Mayo!