What Do People Do?
Cinco de Mayo is seen as a day to celebrate the culture, achievements and
experiences of people with a Mexican background, who live in the United States.
There is a large commercial element to the day, with businesses promoting
Mexican services and goods, particularly food, drinks and music. Other aspects
of the day center around traditional symbols of Mexican life, such as the
Virgin de Guadalupe, and Mexican-Americans who have achieved fame, fortune and
influence in the United
States.
One of the largest Cinco de Mayo celebrations are in cities such as Los Angeles, San Jose, San Francisco, San Antonio,
Sacramento, Phoenix,
Albuquerque, Denver
and El Paso in the USA's south-western regions. In
these cities, a large proportion of the population has Mexican origins. Many
people hang up banners and school districts organize lessons and special events
to educate their pupils about the culture of Americans of Mexican descent. In
some areas, particularly in Pubelo de Los
Angeles, celebrations of regional Mexican music and
dancing are held.
Public Life
Cinco de Mayo is not a federal holiday in the United States.
Organizations, businesses and schools are open as usual. Public transit systems
run on their usual schedule. In some areas of some cities, especially those in
the Southwest, local parades and street events may cause some local congestion
to traffic.
Background
Cinco de Mayo officially commemorates the anniversary of an
early victory by Mexican forces over French forces in the Battle of Puebla on
May 5, 1862. It is not the anniversary of the defeat and expulsion of the
French forces by the Mexicans, which occurred in 1867. It is also not, as is
often assumed, the day of Mexico's
celebrations of independence, which are actually held on September 16. It is
believed that the origins of Cinco de Mayo celebrations lie in the responses of
Mexicans living in California in the 1860s to
French rule in Mexico
at that time.
