Cinco De Mayo
by The fifth of May, or “Cinco de Mayo” in Spanish, is often mistakenly thought of as Mexican Independence Day. The May holiday actually signifies the day in 1862 on which a small Mexican army defeated the odds to win the battle of Puebla, despite being greatly outnumbered by their French opponents.
Though only 4,000 or so strong, the Mexican soldiers scored an unlikely victory against an army of Napoleon’s men that may have been almost double their size. The anniversary of this special event is still celebrated today, both north and south of the border, by people of Mexican ancestry and those of other cultural backgrounds alike.
When Benito Pablo Juárez García, President of Mexico from 1858 to 1872, suspended payments on foreign debts, European powers responded by sending in their troops. The Spanish and British armies withdrew soon afterward, but Napoleon’s French forces remained in place. According to National Geographic, the Emperor sought to establish French dominance over the region. He also wanted to instate one of his relatives as ruler.
Before the clash in Puebla, a town 100 miles east of Mexico City, Napoleon’s French army had been undefeated for 50 years, which makes the result of the “Batalla de Puebla” even more surprising. The French forces were also reportedly equipped with far superior weaponry. Despite the famous victory at Puebla, the French campaign was ultimately successful and Napoleon the third’s relative, Archduke Maximilian of Austria, did rule in Mexico for a short period. However, the improbable events in Puebla did more than just slow the advance of the French army. They became a symbol of bravery and cultural pride that is still significant to many people today, particularly amongst the Mexican-American community. The Chicano Movement of the 1960s lead to a gain in popularity for the Cinco de Mayo holiday in the United States.
Image via Wikipedia
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