Cinco de Mayo fiesta

Question

As I am learning Spanish I start recognizing it all around me more and more. Before, I probably noticed it but never really cared what it meant. One that came to mind recently is Cinco de Mayo. I have heard of it before but don´t know what it is all about. Is this celebrated in Mexico only or in other places? What goes on in this celebration? Has anyone ever been involved in it? It would be cool to see some pics.

Answer 1

Cinco de mayo is not celebrated in Mexico at all simply because the french won that battle.

Answer 2

Las fiestas nacionales mexicanas se han venido desvaneciendo a través de los años. Ahora se transladan al primer lunes de la semana para que así la gente pueda tener un fin de semana largo según dicen. Por ejemplo, si el próximo 5 de mayo caerá en miércoles pero se descansará el lunes... de este modo la gente se olvida de la verdadera celebración. La única que sobrevive con toda su fuerza es el Día de la Independencia, las demás están siendo olvidadas, entre ellas la del 5 de Mayo es de las menos atención, sólo sobrevive en el estado de Puebla.

This is very true! - Rey_Mysterio, Apr 5, 2010

Answer 3

Cinco de Mayo is another excuse for Americans to drink beer and tequila, like we really need one. I would venture to say that fewer than one percent of the people doing a tequila slammer on May 5th have the slightest idea what the holiday refers to.

Answer 4

In Mexico, we celebrated 5 de Mayo, but not like a party. It was more like a holiday (no school, people don't go to work that day) and when I was in Junior High we had to march in a parade. The same in November 20th (Mexican Revolution) and September 16th (Mexican Independence Day). On May 5th we didn't celebrate by partying like here in the U.S. Here, people get these ideas, well, I guess to party. I think that they chose this date because it was easier for people to pronounce and remember cinco de mayo, than dieciseis de septiembre. That is a more important date for the mexican people. People do party on Sept. 16th. in Mexico.

They also party at the state capitol here where i live. - Rey_Mysterio, Apr 5, 2010

Answer 5

Dogbert, you are correct. The Mexican Restaurants in the U.S., together with the beer companies, promote Cinco because of the obvious.. $$$$

Answer 6

Cinco de mayo is only celebrated in the U S A and maybe in France.

Answer 7

This article tell you all you want to know about Cinco de Mayo.

You'll see that this is not Mexico's Independence Day, but the holiday commemorates the Mexican army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

I think we celebrate the "holiday" more here in the U.S. than in Mexico!