CINCO DE MAYO-THE REST OF THE STORY
CINCO DE MAYO has long been celebrated in the US as a day for festivities seeped in Mexican culture. Many have had the mistaken impression that the celebration was Mexican Independence Day, which is actually September 16.
Just as everyone becomes Irish on St Patricks Day, everyone enjoys becoming Mexican on Cinco De Mayo, eating, drinking and attending the cultural celebrations held throughout the US.
In fact, CINCO DE MAYO is a tale of despair, occupation, bloodshed, devout patriots, glorious victory in a David and Goliath tale.
In 1862, Mexico was experiencing dark days. Independence from Spain in 1821, had been bloody, internal chaos, the Mexican-American War 1846-1848, the Mexican Civil War, 1858, had left the Mexican economy in ruins.
The struggles had left Mexico in debt to many nations, primarily Spain, England and France. President Benito Juarez , in 1861, suspended debt payments for a period of two years, promising the debts would be repaid. President Juarez, noting the country was in a state of crisis, literally bankrupt, needed this time to regroup economically.
England, Spain and France refused, instead deciding to invade to get their money in any way possible. England and Spain eventually withdrew. The French seeking to expand their empire, in part due to the growing power of the US, did not.
In 1862, the French army began it advance towards Mexico City. President Lincoln was sympathetic to the Mexican cause for which he is honored in Mexico, however the bloody Civil War in the US made it impossible to offer assistance. Following the end of the civil war, the US did provide military assistance and helped expel the French.
The well fitted French Army, numbered 6,500. It was near Puebla where they encountered strong resistance. Led by Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza.. A militia of 4,500 ill equipped, poorly armed rag tag Mestizo and Zapotec Indian Patriots were able to defeat the French.
"BATALLA DE PUEBLA" was a glorious victory, and it did much to invigorate and bring a much needed national unity to Mexico.
The victory was short lived, Napoleons III, against the wishes of the French citizens, used this battle as an excuse to send more then 30,000 troops and eventually installed Maximilian (1864-1867) as ruler of Mexico.
Maximilian was later executed by the Mexicans. His bullet riddled shirt is kept in a museum in Mexico City.
The victory never ceased to inspire, ballads, novels, books and of course the annual celebration. CINCO DE MAYO is celebrated in Mexico, but most enthusiastically in Puebla, as one can understand.
To the memory of the patriots who fought for freedom, for the right to their own country, to choose their destiny, Salud..............
So this week as you celebrate and partake of all the celebrations, now you know the rest of the story.............
THE BREATHTAKING MURALS OF OROZCO IN DOWNTOWN GUADALAJARA ILLUSTRATE THE HISTORY OF MEXICO
CINCO DE MAYO CELEBRATIONS OCCUR ALL ACROSS THE US. TEQUILA IS ALWAYS A PART OF THE CELEBRATION.
Good article. Thanks for the history lesson.
Reply to this