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Whether you lifted a glass, ate a burrito, or shouted Feliz Cinco de Mayo, Sunday May 5 was the day to widely celebrate a popular Mexican holiday.
Now incorporated into U.S. recognition and celebrations, Mexico’s defeat of the French on May 5, 1862 in Puebla, Mexico became a date to remember and is now recognized as Cinco de Mayo. Be sure not to confuse it with Mexican Independence Day on Sept. 16, 1821, when Mexico declared independence from Spain.
On this special day in 1862, as the U.S. was engaged in its own civil war, France had the plan to overtake Mexico. With only 4000 relatively untrained Mexicans to fight, Mexico found the strength to win the battle against 8000 highly trained and armed French soldiers. Their defeat was declared in Puebla, Mexico on May 5. Even today, the date is a symbol of Mexican patriotism and unity.
The holiday has grown in popularity annually as a day of celebration in the US too. A recognized day for Mexican food and drink, cities and towns come alive with music, food, and toasts to the Fifth of May.
In 2005, the US government passed a resolution to encourage our national celebration of Cinco de Mayo, with countless recognitions and celebrations in our cities from large to small. Over 200 official celebrations were held. For us, with Napoleon III of France secretly supporting our confederate army, his plan was to destroy the union and undermine the power of the United States for French advantage. Thus the Cinco de Mayo defeat of the French at Puebla was important to the US, as well.
For generations the Mexican culture and our Mexican citizens have been important to Eagle Lake and to Colorado County. Let’s plan for next year too! Feliz Cinco de Mayo.
