Feliz Cinco De Mayo!
May 5, 2010 by Elias Hawke
Filed under Culture by Country, Culture À la carte, Customs and Traditions, Featured, Mexico, State Holidays
Feliz Cinco de Mayo! Of course if you say that to a Mexican America they may say “Ok.. uh.. thanks”
What is Cinco De Mayo? Mexican Independence right? Nope think again. Mexican Independence day actually is celebrated on September 16. What Cinco de Mayo commemorates is the Mexican army’s victory over a formidable French army at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.
In Mexico it is a state holiday, schools and banks are closed. Because the 1st of May is also a holiday, families usually plan longer vacations around this time of year but it isn’t one of their more important holidays.
In the United States, Cinco De Mayo is a bigger deal. Typically it is misunderstood by non-Mexicans as the Mexican Independence day. However this day has turned out to be a great celebration of the Mexican people and heritage. I am not Mexican but why not ask one? Gustavo Arellano writes and excellent column for “OC Weekly” known as “Ask a Mexican!” For more information about Cinco de Mayo I highly recommend his article “Gringo de Mayo”.

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