How Cinco De Mayo Turned Into A Cultural Favorite Here
Mexican restaurants across Tuscaloosa/Northport, and the entire country for that matter, were packed tonight as Americans celebrated Cinco de Mayo, which means 5th of May. Ironically, it is not a holiday that most Mexicans celebrate.
The Fifth of May marked an unlikely military victory for Mexico over France in 1862, leading to the annual celebration we now recognize as Cinco de Mayo. Although the holiday conjures up images of raucous celebrations, Cinco de Mayo’s origins are much different. The battle victory alone was cause for celebration in Puebla, Mexico, but Mexican Americans in the United States saw it as an opportunity to start a political movement over 160 years ago.
An outnumbered, ragtag Mexican army defeated the highly trained, better equipped French troops sent by Napoleon III to establish a French presence in Mexico. But the battle victory is overshadowed by Mexican Independence Day on September 16.
In Mexico, the observance of Cinco de Mayo is relatively modest and mainly regional with the state of Puebla being its focal point. In the United States, though, it has grown into a full-blown cultural celebration, complete with food, music, and plenty of festive energy.
Margaretta's, and Mexican food are the center of the day for most Americans who are not cognizant of the day's meaning in Mexican history.
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