(Trends Wide) — Guacamole and fajitas; Mexican and mariachi flags; margaritas, beer and… more beer. In the United States, the quintessential Mexican holiday is Cinco de Mayo.
This date is also commemorated in Mexico, but the local tributes pale in comparison to the enormous celebration that takes place in the United States: there are offers in restaurants, abundant advertising and endless promotions.
Here are five things you should know about Cinco de Mayo in the United States.
1. A David and Goliath victory
Cinco de Mayo celebrates the victory of Mexico over France in the Battle of Puebla, which occurred on May 5, 1862.
By the end of 1861, Spain, the United Kingdom, and France had invaded Mexico, but within six months, the first two withdrew. North of the border, the American Civil War was raging, so the French decided to take advantage of the chaos and invade Mexico, which had been destroyed by war in the late 1850s.
The French advanced in April 1862 on the city of Puebla, located about 137 kilometers east of Mexico City. A small army under the command of Ignacio Zaragoza defeated a larger French contingent.
It was a classic David and Goliath victory and has been celebrated ever since for its symbolic value, though ultimately the French took over Mexico and established a brief Second Mexican Empire reigned by Emperor Maximilian.
2. It is related to Texas
Zaragoza was born in what is now Goliad, Texas, about 10 kilometers north of Corpus Christi. In 1999, the Texas Senate declared it the official place to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.
And boy is it celebrated: there is live music, folkloric dances and barbecues. There is also a giant party at the Goliad fairgrounds.
“It has opened up the prospect for Goliad. It’s something we’re all proud of. It’s one of the reasons we hope our young people carry on the tradition,” Emilio Vargas, a former justice of the peace, told the newspaper. Victoria Advocate from Texas.
Cinco de Mayo celebration in New Mexico. (PAUL RATJE/AFP via Getty Images)
3. It’s a big event, not just in the American Southwest
Among the highest quality and most visited festivals in the United States are Chicago (the party in Douglas Park attracts 200,000 people), Denver (400,000 people in two days), Portland, Oregon (the park festival Waterfront attracts 300,000 people) and the one in St. Paul, Minnesota.
St. Paul, Minnesota? That’s how it is. The city has a neighborhood known as the District of the Sun, an area in the western part of Minnesota that began to attract Mexican immigrants in the early 20th century.
There are now more than 25,000 Latino residents (approximately 10% of the city’s population, according to the website St. Paul Historical) and the Cinco de Mayo festival lasts two days.
4. Why is he so American?
Although Americans have been celebrating Cinco de Mayo practically since the battle ended (particularly in the West), in most of the United States it was unknown until the 1960s, when Mexican-American activists began to give it prominence. It has become a way to celebrate community pride.
But since it’s the United States, it’s also a great marketing opportunity.
Cinco de Mayo is one of the top five days for alcohol consumption in general.
5. Have you thought about trying the mole poblano?
In the United States, Mexican cuisine is also recognized. According to the magazine of the Smithsonian Institute, Puebla cuisine is one of the best in Mexico.
So if you haven’t tried some of these dishes, now is a good time to do so: mole poblano, chalupas (thick tortillas with meat, sauce, and onion), and chiles en nogada (fried chilies with walnut sauce, red pomegranate, and parsley), displaying the colors of the Mexican flag.
Happy Holidays!
(This article was originally published in 2015 and has been updated)
