The Evolution of Cinco De Mayo Celebrations

The Battle of Puebla was a resounding victory on the 5th of May, 1862, for the ill-equipped Mestizo and Zapotec Mexican Indians over the well trained French Army invaders.

Often confused with the Mexican Independence Day, which was fifty years earlier on September 16, 1810, Cinco de Mayo is a story of metamorphosis brought about by time, distance and the magic of spells cast by commercialization.

Global Politics

The conservatives were in power in Mexico during the Mexican-American War of 1846 to 1848 and after decades of political abuse and misrule that led to special privileges for the wealthy, the church and the military they were ousted for a liberal party that was advocating an American style government.

La Reforma (The Reform) took hold and in 1855 the suspension of special privileges for the elite classes sent violent waves throughout the country and a civil war raged for three years. The conservatives were finally defeated but the internal disruption of industry and services led to a temporary suspension of foreign debt payments in 1861. This led to a subsequent invasion by the English and Spanish, who soon left, and the French who decided to stay.

The French were getting aid from the Mexican conservatives who wanted their elite privileges restored by a monarchy under a French prince. The US had become embroiled in its own civil war and would be unlikely to aid the liberal Mexican government.

France had come to the conclusion that it was necessary to make a move in Mexico to counter the growing power in this region of the United States. Ruling this central location became the imperative of Emperor Napoleon III.

This opportunistic land grab and global power-play came to a surprising halt on the 5th of May, 1862, orchestrated by General Ignacio Zaragoza and with the aid of 5,000 locals the General defeated the trained French troops. The delay was only temporary and France established their rule under Maximilian I, Emperor of Mexico. He ruled briefly until the US was able to exert diplomatic pressure causing France to leave, then Maximilian was executed and Mexico became self ruled once more.

Metamorphosis of a Holiday

Cinco de Mayo has taken on a significance in the US that goes beyond celebrating the victory of the underdog over the oppressor and has become an appreciation and celebration of the Mexican culture.

Akin to the cultural homage shown with occasions such as Chinese New Year, St. Patrick's Day and Oktoberfest, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated around the country with parades, music, food, beverages and costumes that are festive and fun.

Cinco de Mayo Celebrations

From as far north as Vancouver, Canada with its annual Cinco de Mayo sky-diving event to the far away island of Malta, in the Mediterranean Ocean, where they quaff cerveza on the 5th of May, it is an all inclusive holiday that can be celebrated by anyone that enjoys a fiesta.

Along with beverages like beer and tequila, the distinctive Mexican cuisine brings the flavor to any celebration. Quesadillas, fajitas, empanadas, rice and beans all add there exotic tastes to the occasion.

Beans, maize, chile peppers and squash all were agricultural staples in Mexico for thousands of years and are still the culinary basics. To these the Spanish added livestock, dairy and spices in the 1500's making a rich blend of flavors possible.

Tex-Mex is a further stirring of the pot with some food experiments that are joyously and deliciously engaged in, combining native traditional, Spanish influenced dishes with north-of-the-border imagination.

The regional musical traditions and Latin rhythms bring together all the other components of the Cinco de Mayo Fiesta, creating an atmosphere of carnival that is captivating.

Beat Your Feet

Pick a direction of the compass and on the 5th of May you will find it pointing to a fiesta.

The Cinco de Mayo, Celebrate Culture Festival, in Denver Colorado is attended by nearly a half-million music fans to hear Spanish rock, Latin jazz, Tex-Mex, Ranchero, Salsa, Mexican regional and Chicano rock in a stunning outdoor setting.

Crowds of over a hundred thousand will visit Reno, Nevada, and at Douglas Park in Chicago, Illinois they host over 200,000 revelers for their colorful Cinco de Mayo festivities.

From Kansas City, Kansas to Portland, Oregon, and from Minneapolis, Minnesota to San Diego, California then heading south through Texas to Puebla, Mexico, where the Batalla de Puebla occurred, pick a direction and in just a few short steps you can beat your feet to a day of Cinco de Mayo celebrations.

Reference:

www.wikipedia.org
http://clnet.ucla.edu
www.life123.com
www.houstonculture.org
www.world-food-and-wine.com
www.allrecipes.com