By TR Robertson
Monday, May 5th will soon be here, the day referred to as Cinco de Mayo. What is Cinco de Mayo? Most in the U.S. know it as a day filling our T.V.’s with advertisements for restaurants, cooking shows, and alcoholic beverages promoting this day as a day to eat good food and have fun? In the United States Cinco de Mayo has turned into a day to celebrate the Mexican American culture. In Mexico it is not a day viewed as a major national celebration, except as a regional celebration in the state of Puebla. Most schools are closed in Mexico, most businesses remain open. Historically, Cinco de Mayo is a day to honor Mexico’s military victory, in 1862, of Mexico’s defeat of the French forces of Napoleon III at the Battle of Puebla. Remarkably, the forces of Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza, some 3,000 soldiers, defeated the French army of over 7,000 soldiers. A famous quote from the Battle of Puebla, where the Mexican Army secured Mexico’s independence, is “Freedom is not given; it is won” (English translation). Following the policy of the Monroe Doctrine from the early 1800’s, the United States had stayed out of stopping the French intrusion into Mexico and the Civil War occurring in the mid-1800’s stopped any assistance as well.
Cinco de Mayo is more widely celebrated in the U.S. with many of these including great traditional Mexican dishes featuring tacos, tamales, and enchiladas; especially dishes with carnitas and barbacoa. Mole Poblano is considered the traditional and official dish of Cinco de Mayo. The Vista Historical Society will be hosting a free Cinco de Mayo celebration at the VHS Museum on Saturday May 3rd, from 12-5 featuring great food, music, mariachis, dancers, booths, speakers, margarita and beer garden all at 2317 Old Foothill Drive.
We are all reminded to be respectful of Mexican traditions on this day, have fun, be safe, enjoy the food and join in the celebration.
FYI – Mexican Independence Day is September 16th which commemorates the start of Mexican War of Independence in 1810 where Mexican people rose up against Spanish rule in what would be an 11-year struggle.
