Cinco de Mayo

By Christine Albert

Mexican pride is observed on one specific day- Cinco de Mayo, or May 5th. However, many people believe this is the day Mexicans won their independence. The people that think this are wrong. Mexicans won their independence on September 16th. But what happened on May fifth was important.

Imagine this: you are a poor Mexican, and your beloved country is being invaded by the French. You and many others go to fight the French at Puebla, and you are the underdogs. But to everyone’s shock and delight, you and your fellow soldiers win the battle, temporarily delaying the fiends. It is a glorious day, one to celebrate for years to come. The French were beat!

Unfortunately for Mexicans, the French were only delayed temporarily. The enemy invaded Mexico City and occupied Mexico a year later. Eventually, though, the French were beaten and driven out of Mexico.

Currently, Cinco de Mayo is widely celebrated throughout not only Mexico but America as well. In Mexico, there are many special traditions to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. From piñatas to dances to food, Cinco de Mayo is a very interesting holiday. There are traditional folk dances as well as more commonly known dances like the Salsa. People eat all types of food and celebrate this very special day. Don’t forget to mark May 5^th on your calendars!