Cinco De Mayo is coming up!

Question

SO, as most of you should know, and if not now know , Cinco de Mayo is coming up soon! What are you plans? For instance:

• Is it a family event?
• Is it a party?
• Do you go places?
• What do you do?

Here's some background on the holiday...

The 5th of May is not Mexican Independence Day, but it should be! And Cinco de Mayo is not an American holiday, but it should be. Mexico declared its independence from mother Spain on midnight, the 15th of September, 1810. And it took 11 years before the first Spanish soldiers were told and forced to leave Mexico.

Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for "fifth of May") is a holiday held on May 5 that commemorates the Mexican army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín.

Cinco de Mayo has its roots in the French occupation of Mexico. The French occupation took place in the aftermath of the Mexican-American War of 1846-48, the Mexican Civil War of 1858, and the 1860 Reform Wars. These wars left the Mexican Treasury in ruin and nearly bankrupt. On July 17, 1861, Mexican President Benito Juárez issued a moratorium in which all foreign debt payments would be suspended for two years, with the promise that after this period, payments would resume. In response, France, Britain, and Spain sent naval forces to Veracruz to demand reimbursement. Britain and Spain negotiated with Mexico and withdrew, but France, at the time ruled by Napoleon III, decided to use the opportunity to establish a Latin empire in Mexico that would favor French interests, the Second Mexican Empire.

The Battle of Puebla was important for at least two reasons. First, although considerably outnumbered, the Mexicans defeated a much better-equipped French army. "This battle was significant in that the 4,000 Mexican soldiers were greatly outnumbered by the well-equipped French army of 8,000 that had not been defeated for almost 50 years." Second, it was significant because since the Battle of Puebla no country in the Americas has been invaded by a European military force.

It might be a historical stretch to credit the survival of the United States to those brave 4,000 Mexicans who faced an army twice as large in 1862. But who knows?

In gratitude, thousands of Mexicans crossed the border after Pearl Harbor to join the U.S. Armed Forces. As recently as the Persian Gulf War, Mexicans flooded American consulates with phone calls, trying to join up and fight another war for America.

Mexicans, you see, never forget who their friends are, and neither do Americans. That's why Cinco de Mayo is such a party -- A party that celebrates freedom and liberty. There are two ideals which Mexicans and Americans have fought shoulder to shoulder to protect, ever since the 5th of May, 1862. ¡¡Viva el cinco de mayo!!

• Estoy en desacuerdo con el autor, the french period in México had little significance - pacofinkler Apr 28, 2011
• 0.0 - DJ_Huero Apr 28, 2011
• As always, good and extremely interesting thread! I look forward to seeing the feedback. - bomberapolac Apr 28, 2011
• Jeje... I'm always good for a little controversy eh? ;-P (I meant this to be happy and festive, but historical is always fun too) - DJ_Huero Apr 28, 2011

Answer 1

The big celebration of "Cinco de Mayo" only takes place in U.S. It seems the mexicans there, adopted this national day as an excuse for a big party.

In México, 5th of may, is the commemoration of the Battle of Puebla against the French forces. We respect that as a holiday, but our celebration does not go to the extent of those living in the U.S.

Our big parties are held on Independence day and Revolution Day, in September and November respectively.

• Now that gives me three special days to have a party , hum nice! - pacofinkler Apr 28, 2011

Answer 2

Second, it was significant because since the Battle of Puebla no country in the Americas has been invaded by a European military force.

The veracity of that satement probably depends on whether you are Argentinean or British. (Falklands War or Guerra de las Malvinas) Argentina had always claimed that the Falkland Islands were theirs, so once they had reoccupied them, the British (NATO) force that descended upon them and took them back was considered an invasionary force.

• Hmmm... indeed depends. ;-) - DJ_Huero Apr 28, 2011
• Thanks Q - DJ_Huero Apr 28, 2011
• No depends about it - no country has E V E R voluntarily surrendered land it has. - ian-hill Apr 28, 2011
• The Argentine invaded sovereign British territory. They were the invaders. - ian-hill Apr 28, 2011
• Well, the thing to take from it is, no country in the Americas has been invaded by European military forces since then. =) - DJ_Huero Apr 28, 2011
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Answer 3

Here's the same answer I gave last year on the same subject:

• I'll drink (to) that any day of the year Dogbert. :)) - ian-hill Apr 28, 2011
• I agree! Yum! - Jraider Apr 28, 2011
• de aquerdo - pacofinkler Apr 28, 2011
• Woooow, how I miss the drink. Dying to have a sip once again - in Mexico of course! - bomberapolac Apr 28, 2011
• Jaja! Mira bombera vente por aca y te voy a hacer una Margarita Especial... I used to bartend and lots of my friends still do. ;-P - DJ_Huero Apr 28, 2011
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Answer 4

establish a Latin empire in Mexico that would favor French interests, the Second Mexican Empire.

This might be more accurately stated as "establish a Catholic empire in Mexico" as this coincided more with the actual aims of Napoleon III.

It might be a historical stretch to credit the survival of the United States to those brave 4,000 Mexicans who faced an army twice as large in 1862. But who knows?

Well, this certainly seems to be a bit of revisionist history. Yes. I would say that this is definitely a stretch. Despite this initial defeat at the hands of Juarist supporters in Puebla, Mexican forces were routed on several subsequent occasions by the French who had sent reinforcements totaling over 35,000 soldiers. Within a year, the French military had taken over Mexico City, and after only two years, the Austrian Archduke Maximilian had entered Mexico City as its Roman Catholic Emperor (albeit short reigned).

However, shortly thereafter, France pulled out it's military support for Maximilian's empire, not due to any specific military defeats but due to the unpopularity of this occupation amongst not only the U.S. and other European powers, but more importantly, the unpopularity amongst the French people themselves. Taking into account other historical events of the time, it should also be noted that any such hold that France may have had on the country of Mexico was tenuous at best, especially when one considers the events of the Franco-Prussian war of 1870 which for the most part put an end to French imperialist ambitions in that century and gave rise to a unified German state.

While I can understand how this battle might be used by some as a sort of jingoistic source of nationalist pride, I cannot see how someone with even a smattering of education regarding world history and politics over the last century or so would even consider equating this battle as a prominent or even peripheral reason as to why "no country in the Americas has [since] been invaded by a European military force." Such a contention would blatantly ignore such factors as the relative geographic isolation of the Americas from European powers with imperialistic aims (and the tactical disadvantage that such an invasion might engender); the relationship between the U.S. and England (which boasted the most powerful navy in the world during the 19th and much of the 20th centuries); the stance of the U.S. on foreign intervention in the Americas as laid out by the Monroe Doctrine (especially from the turn of the 20th century on when the United States began to become a real world superpower).

Also, as has been pointed out by Quentin, I am not completely sure that such a statement can be defended. Certainly, many historians and politicians have equated certain events as invasions (the bombing of Pearl Harbor as an air invasion, for example, or the backing of communist regimes in the Americas by the Soviet Union–especially in regards to the Cuban Missile Crisis–as a "Communist invasion" by the USSR). Although, I suppose that these might be more accurately be described as "Asian" (or in the case of the Soviet Union, "Eurasian") rather than "European invasions." In any case, the outcome of such events certainly had little to do with the battle of Puebla.

• Well, strong stance on things... but what do you do for Cinco de Mayo in your area or personally? =) - DJ_Huero Apr 28, 2011
• It's not that I have a strong stance, it's just that (from my understanding) our world's historical record does not support such statements. - Izanoni1 Apr 28, 2011
• As far as "in my area goes," I live in Texas, too, so many people around here (if they get off from work) throw BBQs... - Izanoni1 Apr 28, 2011
• ...although, to be sure, most of these are much more focused on honoring the contributions of "Anheuser-Busch" than to commemorating the Battle of Puebla. - Izanoni1 Apr 28, 2011
• In any case, May 5 certainly receives much more fanfare in my part of Texas than March 2 does - Izanoni1 Apr 28, 2011
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Answer 5

Nothing happens here on May 5th, but May 1st is a 24 hour party.

• Where you located? - DJ_Huero Apr 28, 2011
• Ecuador. - lorenzo9 Apr 28, 2011
• Really!?! I never noticed you're from Ecuador... my best friend from Quito. He wants me to go there with him later this year. If you're in the area maybe we can all party, I believe he has some family who own clubs or something. =) - DJ_Huero Apr 28, 2011
• By the way what's May 1st there? - DJ_Huero Apr 28, 2011
• Quito is pretty far away and some of the buses aren't running anymore due to too many fatal accidents. May 1st is May Day, or Labor Day. - lorenzo9 Apr 29, 2011

Answer 6

Estoy invitado a una fiesta en el lago con comida y cerveza mexicanas.

I am invited to a party at the lake with Mexican food and beer.

• Aaalways fun.... you better dance too! =) Where are you (or your celebrations) located? - DJ_Huero Apr 28, 2011
• North Carolina. Thanks for the background info above - very interesting. - LaBurra Apr 28, 2011
• De nada, I thought it would be kind of fun to post something like that. - DJ_Huero Apr 28, 2011

Answer 7

I live in Dodge City, Kansas. Since there are a lot of people from Mexico or of Mexican heritage, Cinco de Mayo is a pretty big deal. There is a fiesta, it is talked about at school, and the stores have Cinco de Mayo sales.

• Oooh yea, it's major here too. - DJ_Huero Apr 28, 2011

Answer 8

Lo celebran en Mejico pero aquí no.

Answer 9

Well, to go ahead and toss a quick two cents in...

I'm here in Texas, & considering we used to be part of Mexico, and might as well still be... it's major deal here. Similar to what Leatha said, it's celebrated in schools, business, shops have lots of sales that whole week. La gente janguear y tiran pachangas hasta que todos se ponen pedo. Jaja, Cinco de Mayo is always a great time here, no matter what raza you are.

• Es verdad - pacofinkler Apr 28, 2011
• Símon loco... ;-P - DJ_Huero Apr 28, 2011

Answer 10

En ese dia me va a tomar un poco de tequila,tal vez Hornitos o Cuervo.On Cinco de Mayo,I'm going to drink some tequila,maybe Hornitos or Cuervo!

• Naaaw wey... toma el 1800 o Don Julio, son las más fina. Me gusta tequila blanca. =) - DJ_Huero Apr 28, 2011
• Sotol anejo reposado the Chihuahua local sauce is great!! - pacofinkler Apr 28, 2011
• Jaja ;-P - DJ_Huero Apr 28, 2011
• Hagamos uno! ha ha! - Jraider Apr 29, 2011

Answer 11

In Poland nothing happens. The holiday has no relevance here. However, we have this big and extremely important national holiday of May 3rd. If you are interested, you might want to have a look at this, let's call it non-wikipedian , website.

• Qué interesante... =) - DJ_Huero Apr 28, 2011