Cinco de Mayo has rich ethnic history

The Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo is soon approaching and with it, the exciting festivities and fare of the Mexican culture. This vibrant holiday has become, in part, a celebration of cultural heritage. Mexicans, and others alike, join together on Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for The Fifth of May) to enjoy Mexican food, games and dancing in all their glory, with flashy decorations and buoyant music abounding.

Cinco de Mayo has widely been associated by popular thought as the Mexican Independence Day. One student remarked, "It's like the Mexican version of the fourth of July." Well, yes, the festivities and spirit may be much alike, but Cinco de Mayo, in fact, is not the Mexican Independence Day (which is actually Sept. 16). The celebration on the fifth of May commemorates the Mexican victory over the French army on that day in 1862 at the Battle of Puebla. The story of Cinco de Mayo is actually quite interesting; it tells of the courage and valor of the Mexican army in defending their land.

After Mexico had gained independence from Spain in 1810, it went through a period of internal struggle and political wars. These, in effect, burdened the national economy with heavy debts to several foreign nations, who began demanding repayment.

One of these nations, France, was eager to take advantage of the situation. The French ruler, Napoleon III, wished to expand his empire and therefore used the Mexican debt to France as a reason to invade Mexico. He sought to appoint his relative, Archduke Maximilian of Austria, as ruler of Mexico.

In 1862, Napoleon sent a French army of 6,500 soldiers to the Gulf Coast of Mexico, who were then to march into Mexico City. Americans were in support of Mexico; however, the country was engulfed in its own civil war, which rendered it unable to help the Mexican cause.

The French army, therefore, was sure of victory over the weaker Mexican army. The French General Lorencz proclaimed, "We are so superior to the Mexicans in race, in organization, in discipline, in morality and in refinement of sensibilities, that as of this moment, at the head of our 6,500 valiant soldiers, I am the master of Mexico."

Fate, however, would not have it this way. At the Mexican forts of Loreto and Guadalupe, General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin led his small, inadequately armed force of 4,500 soldiers to defend Mexico from its foreign invaders. The Mexican army put forth its best effort of strong resistance and, against all odds, was able to victoriously defeat the larger, more powerful French army on May 5, 1862, the day for which the holiday bears its name. This day was a glorious and shining moment for Mexico, and has since become one of commemoration and celebration.

It is true that the Mexican victory was short lived, and the French were able to take over and install French leadership a year later. But this too would not last long. The United States eventually began to aide the Mexican army with political and military assistance. Finally, in 1867, the French were expelled from Mexico.

Although General Zaragoza's victory was short lived, his army's courage and valor has lived on to inspire pride and patriotism in Mexicans today. Both Mexicans and those appreciative of the Mexican culture observe Cinco de Mayo today as a celebration of the country's history and culture. Scores of people celebrate the holiday throughout the world, especially in areas where there is a large Mexican population. Festivities often include dancing to the beat of Mexican songs amid vibrant and colorful decorations, while enjoying the spicy tastes of Mexican fare. And of course, who could forget the pinata!