NY, NY. In contrast, Cinco de Mayo in Mexico is celebrated in a very low-key manner.Students get the day off, but banks and government offices are open. Perhaps it would be best to state this at the beginning: Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico’s Independence Day. David Hayes-Bautista, Professor of Medicine and Director of the Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture at the University of California Los Angeles, has written that Cinco de Mayo is very much an American holiday. Many Americans assume Cinco de Mayo is Mexico’s Independence Day. Another common misconception is that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico's Independence Day. Napoleon III hoped to install a monarchy in Mexico (which he was able to do for a few years before Mexico ousted the French). Instead it represented a struggle against imperialism.”, Ramos noted that prior to the first Cinco de Mayo, Mexico was a nation with strong regional differences, from the Pacific coast to Northern Mexico to the Yucatan. Cinco de Mayo is a relatively insignificant event in the annals of Mexican history. Sept. 16 marks the beginning of the war for Mexico’s Independence from Spain. It marks the day in 1810 when the Catholic How an educator uses Prezi Video to approach adult learning theory; Nov. 11, 2020. Sign up for our newsletter for first looks at limited editions, seasonal cocktail recipes, and more. Why do people thinks Cinco de Mayo is Mexico´s Independence Day? “The French army was considered the best army in the world at the time, and they had not been defeated in decades,” Professor Margarita Sánchez of Wagner College told NBC News. But we found most people don't know the real story behind this holiday. No-one wants to be arrested for a Cinco de Mayo/September 16, DUI and dealing with jail, costs, stress, time wasted in court and classes etc. Cinco de Mayo is sometimes mistaken for Mexico's Independence Day —the most important national holiday in Mexico—which is celebrated on September 16, commemorating the Cry of Dolores, which, in 1810, initiated the war of Mexican independence from Spain. Follow NBC News Latino on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. “It gives you a sense that our countries have had a shared history going back hundreds of years,” he said. Isn’t It Mexico’s Independence Day? During that time, I have learned three important distinctions between Sept. 16 and Cinco de Mayo: 1. “And at some point it became very commercial; with people taking advantage of the day to drink all the Coronas they can drink.”. Cinco de Mayo, or the fifth of May, is a pretty popular holiday to celebrate in the United States, although its roots lie in Mexico. It was very unprecedented and it was short-lived, sadly, because a year later the French came back and took over. This is the most significant day for Mexicans, which embodies their pride for their home country. “But a day of celebration is a day of celebration — and that is good for everyone.”. “But often it doesn't resonate. It is a very important holiday in the country and not to be confused with Cinco de Mayo. Cinco de Mayo is not the Mexican Independence Day…It is September 16. Mexican independence and Cinco de Mayo is a very informative book about Mexican history. Cinco De Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day. On this Mexican Independence Day 2020, we tell you why it often gets confused with Cinco De Mayo and how are they different. Mexico’s independence is celebrated on September 16th and shouldn’t be confused with the holiday of May 5th. To help you with your celebration this year, the Alamo presents the history of Cinco de Mayo. The holiday provides an opportunity for many to connect with the spirit of Mexican, traditional food, music and of course, tequila. Not Sure What Cinco de Mayo Is All About? The truth is, Cinco de Mayo marks Mexican army’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín. Contrary to widespread popular belief, May 5th is not actually Mexican Independence Day, and the holiday is primarily celebrated in only one of Mexico's 31 states. About a century later, Chicano activists rediscovered the holiday and embraced it as a symbol of ethnic pride. 6 essential time management skills and techniques Mexican Independence Day has serious roots. Today marks the 154th anniversary of Cinco de Mayo, a bicultural celebration that has become synonymous with margaritas, cervezas (beer) and the occasional controversy. Let us explain. It’s often thought that’s Cinco de Mayo is Mexican Independence Day. All rights reserved. ?Here's a video so now every year I will just copy and paste this on my Facebook … With celebrations all over the country this year for both Cinco de Mayo and Mexican Independance Day, take a little time to raise a glass of Tequila Casa Dragones and say “Salud”, to a true Mexican tequila when acknowledging the nation’s vibrant history. “This fact should make Americans, especially Texans, very proud of their connection to that event,” said Raul Ramos of the University of Houston. But this day is often confused with another observance called Cinco De Mayo, which takes place on May 5 each year. Cinco de Mayo is a relatively insignificant event in the annals of Mexican history. We love that Mexican Independence Day honors a brave holy man who gave his life to free his country. Go To Portland, Oregon. “I wish it were celebrated with more depth, with more opportunity to learn about Mexican history,” she said. “Recent Mexican immigrants are often surprised at what a huge thing Cinco de Mayo has become here,” said Sánchez. Go To Portland, Oregon. That holiday occurs on September 16 each year, the anniversary of the Grito de Dolores , a speech and battle cry uttered by Roman Catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla in 1810 that inspired the movement that ultimately freed Mexico from Spanish rule. Día de … The hero of the original Cinco de Mayo was a Texan. During the French occupation of Mexico, a larger, better-trained and better-equipped French army encountered heavy resistance from a smaller and more poorly equipped Mexican army near the city of Puebla —and on May 5, 1862, that Mexican army managed to hold off the French. “The Battle of Puebla helped the country coalesce around the idea of a unified Mexican identity.”. 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