Cinco de Mayo

Every year I get asked how the "Cinco de Mayo" is celebrated by the Mexican comunity. In the US this holiday is seen as Mexican Independence day.
Let's make it clear, Mexico declared its independence from mother Spain on midnight, the 15th of September, 1810.  And it took 11 years before the first Spanish soldiers were told and forced to leave Mexico.

History Begins...  The battle at puebla in 1862 happened at a violent time in Mexico. Mexico had finally gained its independence from Spain in 1821. In addition, Mexico went through many internal political takeovers and wars such as the American war between 1846-1848 and later the Mexican Civil war of 1858, The national economy was in ruins! During this period of struggle Mexico had accumulated heavy debts to Spain, England and France. They were all asking for repayment. The Us had been paid after the Mexican- American war and France took over the territories once owned by Spain and england. The result was Archduke Maximilian of Austria now ruler of Mexico and backed by Napoleon III. The US was involved in its own Civil War and could not assist Mexico's cause against the invasion. The French army continue to march toward Mexico City until it encountered the strong resistance of the forts of Loreto and Guadalupe near Puebla. Lead by the General zaragoza an army militia of 4500 men and the townspeople were able to stop the invasion. This short lived victory is the celebrated holiday of the Cinco de Mayo. Unfortunately, the victory of the General Zaragoza and his militia was short lived. Napoleon III sent to Mexico a troop of more than 30,000 men who eventually were able to depose the Mexican army, take over Mexico City and install Maximilian as the ruler of Mexico. Maximilian's rule only lasted between 1864 to 1867. The US began to assist mexico to expel the French after the Civil War was over. Maximilian was executed and his shirt full of bullet holes is kept in a museum in Mexico City. A Cinco de Mayo celebration in Puebla and some regions in Mexico include dancing, music, and reenactments of the battle. In many parts of the U.S. where there is a large Mexican or Mexican-American community, you will often find Cinco de Mayo celebrations with food, parades, dances, music and activities for school children.

Vocabulario para celebrar los bailarines dancers la batalla battle el ejército army los franceses French los músicos musicians la reconstrucción reenactment