Merab-Michal Favorite
BRADENTON -- Cinco de Mayo is not
Mexican Independence Day. In fact, the holiday sees limited significance in Mexico itself, celebrated mostly in the state of Puebla and the U.S. If you are wondering why Americans prefer to commemorate their favorite neighbors in May, as opposed to the real Mexican Independence Day on September 16 – it isn’t the weather. The origins date back to the Civil War. Had the Mexicans not won their battle against Napoleon III and his French Army, the War Between the States could have continued past Gettysburg.
Mexicans and Latinos living in California during the American Civil War are credited with being the first to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in the United States. The holiday memorializes the Mexican Army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Under the leadership of
General Ignacio Zaragoza Segu’n, 4,000 ill-equipped Mexican soldiers defeated the French Army, which was more than twice their size, in Puebla, Mexico. The French Army hadn’t been defeated in 50 years, making the unlikely victory that much more significant.
Prior to the battle, three separate wars on Mexican soil had nearly bankrupt the national treasury. In an effort to save the country from economic failure,
President Benito Juarez issued a moratorium suspending all foreign debt payments for two years. France, Britain and Spain sent naval forces to demand reimbursement. While Mexico was able negotiate with Britain and Spain, Napoleon III had ulterior motives. He planned to establish a Latin Empire in Mexico that would favor French interests.
Some historians believe that had Napoleon been successful, he would’ve sent aide to Confederate troops at a time when supplies were very slim. The defeat at Puebla denied him access – and kept him from sending supplies to rebels for another year.
Mexican loyalty doesn’t stop there. After Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, thousands of Mexicans crossed the boarder to join U.S. forces. American consulates were flooded with phone calls of Mexicans volunteering to join in the fight of the Persian Gulf War. In 2010, 673,000 Mexican-Americans were U.S. military veterans.
So today, eat a Mexican dish for dinner and raise a margarita to toast our friends, or neighbors and our allies in Mexico.
Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day, in fact, the
holiday sees limited significance in Mexico itself, celebrated mostly in the
state of Puebla and the U.S. If you are wondering why Americas prefer to
commemorate their favorite neighbors in May as opposed to the real Mexican Independence
Day on September 16 – it isn’t the weather. The origins date back to the Civil
War. Had the Mexicans not won their
battle against Napoleon III and his French Army, the War Between the States
could have continued past Gettysburg.
Mexicans and Latinos living in California during the
American Civil War are credited with being the first to celebrate Cinco de Mayo
in the United States. The holiday memorializes the Mexican army's unlikely
victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza
Segu’n, 4,000 ill-equipped Mexican
soldiers defeated the French, which was more than twice their size in Puebla,
Mexico. The French army hadn’t been
defeated in 50 years.
Prior to the battle,
three separate wars on Mexican soil had nearly bankrupt the country’ treasury.
In an effort to save the country from economic failure, President Benito Juarez
issued a moratorium suspending all foreign debt payments for two years. France,
Britain and Spain sent naval forces to demand reimbursement. While Mexico was
able negotiate with Britain and Spain, Napoleon III had ulterior motives. He planned to establish a Latin Empire in
Mexico that would favor French interests.
Some historians believe that had
Napoleon been successful, he would’ve sent aide to Confederate troops at a time
when supplies were very slim. The defeat at Puebla denied him access – and kept
him from sending supplies to rebels for another year.
Mexican loyalty doesn’t stop
there. After Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, thousands of Mexicans crossed the board
to join U.S. forces. American consulates were flooded with phone calls of
Mexicans volunteering to join in the fight of the Persian Gulf War. In 2010,
673,000 Mexican-Americans were U.S. military veterans.
So today eat a Mexican dish for dinner and raise a margarita
to toast our friends, or neighbors and our allies in Mexico.
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