Every year on May 5, the holiday is marked by a famous Mexican military victory. The event has grown into a celebration of Latino heritage and culture, and is celebrated across much of North America.
Festivals and parades that had become popular in the U.S. are now back to normal after the Pandemic.
There are five facts about this holiday.
The 5th of May is often wrongly thought to be the date of Mexico's independence from Spain. Grito de Dolores is a holiday on Sept. 16 and is also called El Grito de la Independencia.
RECOMMENDED VIDEOS FOR YOU...
The Battle of Puebla took place between the Mexican and French armies on May 5, 1862. The Mexican government stopped making repayments on a large debt it owed to the French emperor. The emperor dispatched French soldiers to occupy parts of Mexico to collect the debt.
At Puebla — which is approximately 80 miles (129 kilometers) east of Mexico City — approximately 4,000 Mexican stood firm against around 6,000 French soldiers. The French, who were much better equipped than their enemy, were were led by Commander Charles Ferdinand Latrille. On the day, the Mexican army, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza, inflicted about 1,000 killed, more wounded, and forced the survivors to retreat to Mexico's Gulf coast.
Though the French returned the following year and successfully captured both Puebla and Mexico City, the Mexicans eventually won the war in 1867. The battle against the odds at Puebla on May 5 remains among the most famous Mexican victories.
In Mexico, the state and city of Puebla celebrate the holiday of "Cinco de Mayo" with large parades. Grito de Dolores is not celebrated in all of Mexico, but neighboring areas, including Mexico City, observe the holiday with festivities.
The rise of the Mexican American movement in the US in the 1940s led to the increased popularity of the holiday. In the north, there are more parades, festivals, and parties celebrating the Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo than there are in the south.
The Festival de Fiesta Broadway was one of the largest events in the world prior to the COVID-19 Pandemic, attracting as many as 600,000 people with its colorful array of Mexican food, music and dancing.
The festival is named after the street it is held on in Los Angeles, Calif., where every year up to 24 square blocks were barricaded off to make room for the event.
In 2022, festivities are back on the schedule, with events across the country.
The Festival de Fiesta Broadway is larger than the one in Chandler, Arizona, but it still has its own unique flair. There are lots of chihuahuas.
The festival is known for its Chihuahuas, according to an official representative.
The race has consisted of 150 purebred Chihuahuas and takes place on a tiny track set up especially to accommodate the small breed. After the race winners are announced, the "king and queen coronation" takes center stage. The king and queen Chihuahuas are judged based on who is the best dressed, has the best temperament and is the most fashionable. The winners receive a medal and royal cape.
Since the popularity of the Chihuahua-themed Cinco de Mayo celebrations, other similar events have popped up in different states, including Washington D.C., where the "Running of the Chihuahuas" is set for May 7, 2022.
The citizens of Puebla, Mexico, re-enacted the Battle of Puebla during their annual festival. The participants are dressed in 19th-century uniforms and carrying weapons.
Those representing the French soldiers wear knapsacks with wine bottles sticking out of them, and some dress in the elaborate blue-and-red zouave uniform associated with French infantry in this period. Women dressed in long skirts and flowery hats represent the women who cooked and cared for the Mexican army.
The Mexican and French generals meet face-to-face for a dramatic sword fight finale after a mock battle in which rifle shots ring out and cannon blasts roar. The Battle of Puebla is re-enactment in several parts of the U.S., including San Diego's Old Town and Heritage Park.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
