Cinco de Mayo
In honour of Cinco de Mayo (which is Tuesday!) we thought it would be appropriate to blog about this Mexican Holiday.
Cinco de Mayo History
Cinco de Mayo (May 5th) is celebrated every year across Mexico and parts of the United States with large Mexican and Hispanic populations. This special day marks the poorly armed Mexican army’s victory over the well-armed French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. This win against the French sparked a resistance movement across Mexico, which held the French off until 1867 when the United States stepped in to help their neighbour. This holiday is largely celebrated in the State of Puebla where the battle was won.
Cinco de Mayo Celebrations
Cinco de Mayo is known for its lively colours, which represent the Mexican flag, delicious Mexican foods and music. Celebrations often consist of mariachi bands, fiestas, Mexican folk dancing, and traditional Mexican dishes such as tacos. Parades are another way of celebrating Cinco de Mayo and often end in a reenactment of the Mexican victory over the French. Cinco de Mayo is often confused as Mexican Independence Day, which is not until September 16 each year.
If you can’t get down to Mexico for Cinco de Mayo or even the southern United States, throw your own fiesta at home with friends or head out to a local Mexican restaurant for a little Cinco de Mayo fun!
References
http://www.history.com/topics/holidays/cinco-de-mayo
http://www.examiner.com/article/cinco-de-mayo-history-fun-facts-traditions-and-celebrations-atlanta