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¡Que Viva el Cinco de Mayo!

News: History

Every year, fiesta lovers gather on May 5—"Cinco de

Mayo" in Spanish—to pay tribute to Mexican culture
by attending parades, listening to music, and
indulging in delectable dishes, though there's far
more to this festive occasion than tunes and tacos.
Cinco de Mayo isn't so much a Mexican holiday as it
is a Mexican American one, created by and for
Latinos to recognize a pivotal day in Mexico's
political history and to celebrate the richness of
Mexican American heritage.

What Is Cinco de Mayo?

Contrary to popular belief, Cinco de Mayo is not Cinco de Mayo is a day for dancing. Image credit:
Mexican Independence Day. Mexico declared its valentinrussanov/iStock/Getty Images Plus
independence from Spain on September 16, 1810—
50 years before the event commemorated as Cinco de Mayo. In Mexico, May 5 is called "El Día de la
Batalla de Puebla" (The Day of the Battle of Puebla) and honors Mexico's victory in the
aforementioned conflict on May 5, 1862, when an outnumbered Mexican army defended the country
from invasion by the French. This unlikely triumph became a symbol of Mexican refusal to
acquiesce to foreign forces.

Despite its national significance, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated only in parts of Mexico, mostly with
parades and historical reenactments. In the United States, however, it's widely observed due in part
to the Chicano Movement of the 1960s and '70s, which popularized its celebration in the spirit of
Mexican American pride. Over the decades, the holiday expanded further as the Latin American
population grew, and today the holiday is ubiquitous. From coast to coast, people of all ethnicities
gather on May 5 to have fun while reflecting on the contributions of Latinos to U.S. history and
culture.

A Tasty Celebration

And with this increased popularity has come commercialization. In early May, many restaurants
across the U.S. capitalize on the holiday by inviting hungry patrons to chow down on Mexican-
inspired dishes like nachos and fajitas.

But for more genuine Mexican fare, it makes sense to turn to the region of Puebla, where the May 5
battle took place. Popular foods from there range from savory topped corn tortillas called chalupas
poblanas to the spicy, complex, chocolate-tinged sauce mole poblano. These and many other
authentic dishes can be found in restaurants across the U.S. that pay homage to Mexico's diverse
cuisine.

A Side of Fancy Footwork

What's dining without dancing? Baile folklórico, a term that encompasses the regional folk dances
of Mexico, often takes center stage at Cinco de Mayo festivals. The dancers—some outfitted in
embroidered jackets and hats, others wearing embellished, brightly colored skirts designed to twirl
and fan—flamboyantly stamp and tap in time to rousing music.

The Los Angeles, California, area, with its sizable Mexican American population, is home to some of
the most noteworthy Cinco de Mayo festivals in the country. The Esperanza Flores Dance Company
enlivens some of those cultural events with baile folklórico. "We want to keep the love of our
culture going," Flores, a native of Mexico, told NBC Los Angeles. "Even though [younger generations]
were not born in Mexico, I think it's important for them to know where they come from."

A Celebration Set to Music

Where there are dancers, there's got to be music,

and mariachi bands often set the tone for ebullience
on Cinco de Mayo. A mariachi ensemble is typically
made up of a trumpet, a guitar, a violin, a stringed
instrument called a vihuela, and a bass guitar called
a guitarrón. Bands are sometimes accompanied by
skillful lead mariachi singers, such as 12-year-old
Eduardo Treviño, who has taken up the tradition.

This prodigious mariachi soloist, who delighted

audiences on America's Got Talent, comes from a
musical family—Treviño's great-grandfather was a A mariachi band plays traditional instruments as they
singer in the 1920s. "[I sing mariachi] to represent sing. Image credit: cristianl/E+/Getty Images
my great-grandfather's legacy and also my culture,"
Treviño told Houston Life.

In the words of Joe Baca, a former U.S. representative, "Cinco de Mayo has come to represent a
celebration of the contributions that Mexican Americans and all Hispanics have made to America."
And that's something worth singing about!

Think about and discuss these questions:

What evidence from the article supports the idea that food is an important part of Cinco de
Mayo celebrations?
What is the most interesting fact you learned about Cinco de Mayo from this article? Why was
it interesting to you?

TO-DO NOTES VOCABULARY

QUESTION 1 1/8

Which of the following sentences expresses the main idea of the article?

A. Mariachi bands are an essential component of Cinco de Mayo celebrations.

B. Cinco de Mayo is an annual holiday that celebrates Mexican history and
culture.
C. Traditional Mexican folk dances are often performed on Cinco de Mayo.
D. Cinco de Mayo is occasionally confused with Mexican Independence Day.

SUBMIT

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