How Big of Deal is Cinco de Mayo for Mexicans?
I hope everyone had a great Cinco de May last Sunday. Before the celebration, I’m sure there were many restaurants in the area promoting Cinco de Mayo deals. In America, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated by getting together with your closest friends. However, why is Cinco de Mayo so prevalent in the United States and why is it so popular?
The history of Cinco de Mayo starts on May 5th 1862 when Mexican defeated a strong French army led by Napolean at the Battle of Puebla. This battle location is now a historical city in Mexico. During this battle, the Mexicans beat the odds and were able to defeat the french having fewer men. This win became symbolic for the country of Mexico. However, although they won the battle, they did not win the war and that is why the holiday is not all that important in Mexico.
During this time, Latinos who resided in California were aware of the Mexican-French battle and decided to support their victory in the US. The holiday also became popularized after beer companies started targeting Latinos for this occasion in the 1970s and 1980s. As decades started passing, Cinco de Mayo has become a traditional Mexican-American holiday that represents unity and celebration.
