Cinco de Mayo
1 min read
By: Calia Bennett
Cinco de Mayo, contrary to popular American belief, it is not the same as Mexican Independence Day. Instead, the day is meant to honor a single fight known as the Battle of Puebla.
In 1861, Mexican President Benito Juárez faced financial ruin and debt payments to European governments. France, Britain, and Spain demanded repayment, but Britain and Spain withdrew. France, led by Napoleon III, sought to establish an empire in Mexico, storming Veracruz and driving Juárez and his government into retreat. During an interview with Dante Bolte, a Lenape Tech student from CIT, said that, “I never really thought of why Cinco de Mayo was a holiday that people celebrated.”
Cinco de Mayo is a minor holiday in Mexico, but in the United States, it has blossomed into a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in cities with considerable Mexican American communities. In another interview with a student from ADT, Damian Wadding, he said “I think the holiday is pretty interesting, despite never having celebrated it myself.” Whether a person celebrates this holiday as a part of their culture or just for fun, many people enjoy the lively festivities of Cinco de Mayo.
