Many people incorrectly believe Cinco de Mayo is Mexican Independence Day. It’s not. That day is celebrated September 16. Oddly, Cinco de Mayo receives relatively little attention across Mexico with the exception of one state, Puebla. However, on our side of the border much is made of the 5th of May. Across the fruited plain many women, men and children will enjoy “traditional” Mexican foods, beverages, music and fiestas.
Why is it that this seemingly insignificant Mexican holiday is so widely celebrated in the United States?
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I actually wonder that myself. I honestly think it's an accuse to drink and have fun. It's like St. Patrick's Day. You don't have to be Irish to celebrate or drink. Although, many people will claim to be Irish especially on that day. That's when they all come out of the woodworks!
ReplyDeleteI have never known the true reason as to why cinco de mayo is celebrated in the United States especially since Mexicos actual independence day is in September. On the fifth of May was the battle that took place in Puebla between the Mexican and French troops. I don't know the answer as to why it is celebrated on the fifth, maybe its an excuse to have festivals and party.
ReplyDeleteResponse to Maggie Shaw
ReplyDeleteYou might be right! Cinco de Mayo might just be an excuse to drink and have fun! And it does resemble St. Patrick's Day because nonirish people celebrate that holiday also!
Kasey Waters(online)-
ReplyDeleteI believe that it is just another excuse to drink and have fun. Yet i do believe that it is also a time where kids get a chance to enjoy the culture (not by drinking). An example is high school. In the spanish class in high school they let kids try to make the food. Then there are some parents who will cook the traditional foods. But mainly it is just another drinking holiday.
Kasey Waters(online)-
ReplyDeletein response to Maggie Shaw
I too agree that it is just another holiday to get drunk and have fun. I never thought about it being like St. Patrick's Day. But i think you are right. It is very much like that.
People love to celebrate, have parties, and drink. It is a reason for people to do these things. I think it also is an opportunity for people to enjoy the culture of Mexico. Even if it is not the right time, it is still a time where kids and adults can enjoy aspects of a different culture.
ReplyDeleteIn our ignorance... don't we presume that it is the Mexican equivelant of our 4th of July? Americans really value our freedoms and I think the enphasis on this "Mexixcan Independance Day," may be more important here in America because we value the idea of freedom and independance.
ReplyDelete- Sabrina T/TH 6 p.m.
Angela Carrozza
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with Maggie Shaw. Most people just like to go out and have fun on these types of holidays. Just like she said, it's mostly an excuse to get drunk! I'm not going to lie, I am one of these people!
I agree with the others. I think it is just an excuse to get together with friends and drink and have fun. Where I work we are all bringing in food and having a lunch. It is just another reason to eat, and hang out with friends! People will find any reason in the world for that! :)
ReplyDeleteE. Chappell
Deanna P.
ReplyDeleteI think it's just a great excuse to drink and have a good time with friends! Maybe everyone else should get on board... we have the right idea here.
I think people just like an excuse to get with friends, family and have fun. As humans, we are always looking for a reason to party!
ReplyDeleteAmber Taylor
ReplyDeleteThats a funny question, because i never really knew what the reason was behind that day. Of course i went out and partied. The only people I know who actually celebrate it are the people who like to go out and party. So I would have to agree that it is just anothe reason for americans to go out and have fun, get drunk, party but for a "liget" reason. In my opinion, Americans are not valuing the concept.I have never been out during that holiday and heard someone talking about the actual mexican independence day.
Scotty Hendricks said...
ReplyDeleteBecause we have to celebrate it on a day in our calendar to show tribute. I mean it's basically another reason to get people to have a party to have something to do.
Lisa W.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Scotty, it gives us something to do! Its a good reason to get together with friends and have fun!
I think the reason why the Mexican Holiday is so widely celebrated here in the United States is because there are a many Mexican lives here in every state of America, in that, they are influencing the American to join and share their culture like celebrating Cinco de Mayo. And I think it is not just a way to have an excuse to drink and party, but that day means a lot and very valueble for Mexican because in my culture, we have a lot of holidays too that is very important for us.
ReplyDeleteIn Response to Amber
ReplyDeleteI do too, I thought Cinco de Mayo is Mexican independence day because when I asked my husband what's the celebration of that day, he said it's their independence day, but it's not. Cinco de Mayo is the victory of 4,000 Mexican soldiers against 8,000 French forces on the morning of May 5, 1862 in Puebla Mexico.But I think alot of Americans didn't know what is the real reason why May 5th is very important to Mexican, and some of them just go out and party but we can't blame them because you will get alot of free margarita and tequila. :-)
I honestly do not know why cinco de mayo is celebrated more in the U.S. than in mexico but i think it may be because here in america we like to adapt different cultures and cinco de mayo is just another day that we can have fun and enjoy another culture. Add a little spice to our everyday lives ha!
ReplyDeleteScotty Hendricks
ReplyDeleteI agree with you totally its a day we can get together with friends and family...like I said have fun and explore another culture just adding a little spice to our everyday lives
I wonder if there is some ignorance involved here. Where somehow Americans in part adopted another holiday without really looking into the history or significance of the actual date. Maybe even to sympathize with the patrons we believe celebrate this day religiously that have come into our borders. And yes, I would have to attach the possibility of giving everyone a chance to drink a little more, party a little more, and my favorite, eat some wonderful Mexican cuisine.
ReplyDeleteBrent Reese
Tues/Thurs 8-10pm
Alexis Gregory
ReplyDeleteI think it is just an excuse for people to go out and get drunk and have fun!!! I do believe that American do like to explore other cultures so maybe thats why we do a big celebration.
lillian (online)
ReplyDeleteI agree with the others about Cinco de Mayo being a day for people to go out, meet with their friends, and have a few drinks and have fun. Cinco de Mayo is not independence day for the Mexicans, as a matter of fact, in Mexico it is not celebrated with the exception of the city of Puebla. Like I said we are all celebrating for what ever the reason.
Felicia Cleveland - Online
ReplyDeleteI agree with V. Kelll, Many people dont understand the meaning being Cinco De Mayo. Most do associate the day with Mexican Independence. I believe only the City of Puebla and the US make a big deal out it. I think that the US only joined the ban wagon because of the profits being made on the sale of mexican products sold in US. They benefit from the taxes being charged in my opinion
Jennifer O'Dea (Online)
ReplyDeleteI have to admit that I have no idea what Cinco de Mayo actually is- except that it happens on May fifth, like the name states. I have no idea why anyone in the United States would celebrate it- especially if people in Mexico don't celebrate it. Maybe Americans celebrate it for the same reasons they celebrate Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday before lent. It doesn't have to be significant to be observed. Although it is weird and whatever the reason behind Americans onserving the day, I don't understand it. Likewise, why would someone from Mexico celebrate Mardi Gras?
Jennifer O'Dea (Online)
ReplyDeleteIn response to Brent R.
I agree that it is almost ignorant for someone to celebrate a holiday without any knowledge as to what or whay it is. Yes it may be just an excuse to have dinner and drinks; however, if one was to take advantage of the day, it would make sense to first research it, or at least what it is?
Shana M. (Online)
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree with most of the other students. Americans seem to look for any reason to get together with friends and eat and drink. There is nothing wrong with that. I went to a Mexican resturant for lunch with a friend of mine on Cinco De Mayo and it was packed. Everyone was laughing and having a great time. I have to admit that I was unaware that this holiday was not made a big deal in Mexico. Majority of Americans probably don't know that either. Either way this holiday will still be celebrated by Americans for years to come.
Sardia Irvine
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone else. I belive Cinco de Mayo is just another holiday Americans use as an excuse to party and drink. If you ask most Americans they don't even know why it is celebrated. We can just add this to our long list of holidays that have started out meaning one thing and ended up something else. Christmas is known more for Santa claus than it is for the birth of Christ. Easter is known more for the easter bunny than the ressurection. Memorial day is more for barbeque than for remembering our fallen soldiers. July 4th is a big celebration known for the fireworks extravaganzas and I still don't know who or what St. Patricks day is all about. Lol! I like to party too, so I'm just as guilty as the next person. Lol!
Daniela velez( online)
ReplyDeleteI am pretty sure that is not because they care about mexico or anyhting like that. I think they celebrate it because is just a excuse to get drunk and have fun. I have to admit that almost all american people don't like hispanic people. So, why are the going to celebrate cinco de mayo? that does not have anything to do with United states. American people find any excuse to get drunk, but it makes me so mad that they are really excited about cinco de mayo! but they don't even know why they are celebrating it.
Kelly Krieg
ReplyDeleteI agree with everyone else. Cinco de Mayo is just another reason to celebrate and have fun. I think that is can be educational for kids in school learning about the Mexican culture. I am not sure what everyone is actually celebrating and I don't think they know either. The beauty of that, is that nobody seems to care! Everyday is just in to having a reason to celebrate! I love America, we'll celebrate anything, our country, other people's countries, saints, trees, and the list goes on!
Kristen Davis-Online
ReplyDeleteI have wondered this myself a few times. I honestly have no idea. I really think it is just an excuse to drink and have fun. It also gives businesses a day to make extra money off of food and alcohol.
Kristen Davis responding to Kelly Krieg
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with you about loving America. I too think it's so neat how we'll celebrate just about anything, even if it has nothing to do with us at all.
Cinco de Mayo, Quatro de Junes, who cares why it is celebrated as long as people are at last having fun in this workaholic society? Mardi Gras, St Patrick's Day, isn't it fun to always have an excuse to celebrate some cultures, that wouldn't even be remembered otherwise? We know at least that Americans are becoming a more integrating society than ever before; good news, right? For me at least...
ReplyDeleteCathryn Long (online)
ReplyDeleteIn response to Maggie Shaw...
I couldn't have said it better myself. I believe that people in the United States look for any excuse to drink and have fun. As funny as this may sound, I didn't even know what Cinco de Mayo meant until this past May "6th". I was in class about to take a test and my friend told me that she stayed out too late celebrating Cinco de Mayo. I told her that she should have waited until tonight (May 6th) to do that and she laughed at me. Boy did I feel dumb when I found out why!
I have several friends from Mexico and they do celebrate Cinco de Mayo. I have honestly never asked them what it is about. Actually, whne people ask I tell them that I think it is the equivallent of our 4th of July. All I know is that there are fresh tamales involved and I am in!
ReplyDeleteCinco De Mayo is celebrated in American, because the Americans helped the Mexicans save their land on this day in history. Mexican therefore, decided to share their food, culture with Americans. The food has been popular here since that day of peace between bordered countries.
ReplyDeleteAndrew Salak
ReplyDeleteBecause 4,000 Mexican soldiers smashed the French and traitor Mexican army of 8,000 at Puebla, Mexico, 100 miles east of Mexico City on the morning of May 5, 1862. and it gives us a reason to get drunk and forget why we are celebrating it in the first place.
Andrew Salak
ReplyDeleteIn case anyone actually did want to know why?
The French had landed in Mexico (along with Spanish and English troops) five months earlier on the pretext of collecting Mexican debts from the newly elected government of democratic President (and Indian) Benito Juarez. The English and Spanish quickly made deals and left. The French, however, had different ideas.
Under Emperor Napoleon III, who detested the United States, the French came to stay. They brought a Hapsburg prince with them to rule the new Mexican empire. His name was Maximilian; his wife, Carolota. Napoleon's French Army had not been defeated in 50 years, and it invaded Mexico with the finest modern equipment and with a newly reconstituted Foreign Legion. The French were not afraid of anyone, especially since the United States was embroiled in its own Civil War.
The French Army left the port of Vera Cruz to attack Mexico City to the west, as the French assumed that the Mexicans would give up should their capital fall to the enemy -- as European countries traditionally did.
Under the command of Texas-born General Zaragosa, (and the cavalry under the command of Colonel Porfirio Diaz, later to be Mexico's president and dictator), the Mexicans awaited. Brightly dressed French Dragoons led the enemy columns. The Mexican Army was less stylish.
General Zaragosa ordered Colonel Diaz to take his cavalry, the best in the world, out to the French flanks. In response, the French did a most stupid thing; they sent their cavalry off to chase Diaz and his men, who proceeded to butcher them. The remaining French infantrymen charged the Mexican defenders through sloppy mud from a thunderstorm and through hundreds of head of stampeding cattle stirred up by Indians armed only with machetes.
When the battle was over, many French were killed or wounded and their cavalry was being chased by Diaz' superb horsemen miles away. The Mexicans had won a great victory that kept Napoleon III from supplying the confederate rebels for another year, allowing the United States to build the greatest army the world had ever seen. This grand army smashed the Confederates at Gettysburg just 14 months after the battle of Puebla, essentially ending the Civil War.
And because the Americans did what they did for Mexico, Mexicans came to America to help fight after Pearl Harbor, not forgetting what we did for them. So Cinco De Mayo is a holiday honored by freedom and liberty by both sides together, as if they we battling sobriety.
Alaa Abdul Wahab
ReplyDeleteBecause they like to have free time to get together for fun , by having parties, delecious food , and drinks . we all love holidays to enjoy our time in this tough life ,so it is a good celebration to.
I never knew that it wasn't Mexico's Independence Day! I have never celebrated it either though. People generally don't question why they do the things they do especially when it comes to holidays. People who say they are Christian and would say that they never do anything to worship any other deity but God celebrate Easter with dyed eggs and candy bunnies and never question how that relates back to the resurrection. African Americans celebrate the Fourth of July in America when it is not THEIR Independence Day. In 1776 black people still had almost another 100 years of slavery to look forward to.
ReplyDeleteHannah McAlpine
ReplyDeleteI do think some people use Cinco De Mayo as an excuse to get drunk. Some people probably dont even know what it translate to in English. But all in all, its an excuse to get together with friends and family, have a good time, and celebrate, even if it doesnt pertain to you!
Nadia,
ReplyDeleteSpenish is a second languige in USA ,so the mexican's day suppose to be the second larget holiday in USA, there is more maxican community in all over the USA thatts why it seems like every one is celebrating this special day.