Happy Cinco De Mayo
Drink up!!! 
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Cinco de Mayo is a date of great importance for the Mexican and Chicano communities. It marks the victory of the Mexican Army over the French at the Battle of Puebla. Althought the Mexican army was eventually defeated, the "Batalla de Puebla" came to represent a symbol of Mexican unity and patriotism. With this victory, Mexico demonstrated to the world that Mexico and all of Latin America were willing to defend themselves of any foreign intervention. Especially those from imperialist states bent on world conquest.
Cinco de Mayo's history has its roots in the French Occupation of Mexico. The French occupation took shape in the aftermath of the Mexican-American War of 1846-48. With this war, Mexico entered a period of national crisis during the 1850's. Years of not only fighting the Americans but also a Civil War, had left Mexico devastated and bankrupt. On July 17, 1861, President Benito Juarez issued a moratorium in which all foreign debt payments would be suspended for a brief period of two years, with the promise that after this period, payments would resume.
The English, Spanish and French refused to allow president Juarez to do this, and instead decided to invade Mexico and get payments by whatever means necessary. The Spanish and English eventually withdrew, but the French refused to leave. Their intention was to create an Empire in Mexico under Napoleon III. Some have argued that the true French occupation was a response to growing American power and to the Monroe Doctrine (America for the Americans). Napoleon III believed that if the United States was allowed to prosper indescriminantly, it would eventually become a power in and of itself.
In 1862, the French army began its advance. Under General Ignacio Zaragoza, 5,000 ill-equipped Mestizo and Zapotec Indians defeated the French army in what came to be known as the "Batalla de Puebla" on the fifth of May.
In the United States, the "Batalla de Puebla" came to be known as simply "5 de Mayo" and unfortunately, many people wrongly equate it with Mexican Independence which was on September 16, 1810, nearly a fifty year difference. Over, the years Cinco de Mayo has become very commercialized and many people see this holiday as a time for fun and dance. Oddly enough, Cinco de Mayo has become more of Chicano holiday than a Mexican one. Cinco de Mayo is celebrated on a much larger scale here in the United States than it is in Mexico. People of Mexican descent in the United States celebrate this significant day by having parades, mariachi music, folklorico dancing and other types of festive activities.
Cinco de Mayo's history has its roots in the French Occupation of Mexico. The French occupation took shape in the aftermath of the Mexican-American War of 1846-48. With this war, Mexico entered a period of national crisis during the 1850's. Years of not only fighting the Americans but also a Civil War, had left Mexico devastated and bankrupt. On July 17, 1861, President Benito Juarez issued a moratorium in which all foreign debt payments would be suspended for a brief period of two years, with the promise that after this period, payments would resume.
The English, Spanish and French refused to allow president Juarez to do this, and instead decided to invade Mexico and get payments by whatever means necessary. The Spanish and English eventually withdrew, but the French refused to leave. Their intention was to create an Empire in Mexico under Napoleon III. Some have argued that the true French occupation was a response to growing American power and to the Monroe Doctrine (America for the Americans). Napoleon III believed that if the United States was allowed to prosper indescriminantly, it would eventually become a power in and of itself.
In 1862, the French army began its advance. Under General Ignacio Zaragoza, 5,000 ill-equipped Mestizo and Zapotec Indians defeated the French army in what came to be known as the "Batalla de Puebla" on the fifth of May.
In the United States, the "Batalla de Puebla" came to be known as simply "5 de Mayo" and unfortunately, many people wrongly equate it with Mexican Independence which was on September 16, 1810, nearly a fifty year difference. Over, the years Cinco de Mayo has become very commercialized and many people see this holiday as a time for fun and dance. Oddly enough, Cinco de Mayo has become more of Chicano holiday than a Mexican one. Cinco de Mayo is celebrated on a much larger scale here in the United States than it is in Mexico. People of Mexican descent in the United States celebrate this significant day by having parades, mariachi music, folklorico dancing and other types of festive activities.
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As copied and pasted from here
suicide
I knew I had read that somewhere before.
Though I am not Mexican, I do like to know why I have a good reason to drink.
[ May 05, 2003, 09:09 PM: Message edited by: AllBlackTibby ]
suicide
I knew I had read that somewhere before.
Though I am not Mexican, I do like to know why I have a good reason to drink.
[ May 05, 2003, 09:09 PM: Message edited by: AllBlackTibby ]
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QUOTE
At least you took the time to do that. In school today I was the only person in my class who knew what we really are celebrating.
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me not that inte...intil..smart.
I couldve explained the meaning of 5 de mayo in my own words, but that site gave a better backround on it. Ive taken a year of Mexican-American history, and currently taking chicano literature. You learn alot of stuff in there that clear up some common misconceptions. Example: ever heard of La malinche(forgot her real name)? the supposed traitor to the aztecs, wife of Hernan Cortez, the spanish conqueror that came over in a boat with a bunch of other spanish guys, lead to the fall of the aztec empire roughly over 600 years ago. People describe 'La Malinche' as being this aztec woman who turned her back on her people by helping cortez to take over. Thats whats been taught. What people didnt know is that it was the other way around. She was born into royalty, later sold into slavery by her family so her brother could get her inheritance. theres more on this but it would take awhile. k, now i have a chem lab report to type up. suicide
I couldve explained the meaning of 5 de mayo in my own words, but that site gave a better backround on it. Ive taken a year of Mexican-American history, and currently taking chicano literature. You learn alot of stuff in there that clear up some common misconceptions. Example: ever heard of La malinche(forgot her real name)? the supposed traitor to the aztecs, wife of Hernan Cortez, the spanish conqueror that came over in a boat with a bunch of other spanish guys, lead to the fall of the aztec empire roughly over 600 years ago. People describe 'La Malinche' as being this aztec woman who turned her back on her people by helping cortez to take over. Thats whats been taught. What people didnt know is that it was the other way around. She was born into royalty, later sold into slavery by her family so her brother could get her inheritance. theres more on this but it would take awhile. k, now i have a chem lab report to type up. suicide