Fifth of May. That’s what Cinco De Mayo means. This holiday is mainly celebrated by the people of Mexico, but sometimes people in America celebrate the holiday. There are many things we do during this holiday, but the real question is, why do we celebrate it? The reason we do is because of the Battle of Puebla on May 5th, 1862. This battle was between the French and Mexico.
The holiday is often celebrated here in the United States, as stated before. It’s mainly celebrated in Mexican-American populated areas. The holiday is a symbol of Mexican heritage and pride. It is often celebrated with parades, festivals, and many other cultural events related to Mexico. Eating traditional Mexican food like tacos, enchiladas, and guacamole is often used to celebrate the holiday. Celebrating this holiday is an opportunity to experience the Mexican culture.
Many people mistaken the holiday to be on September 16th, the day Mexico became independent and was free. Others believe Cinco de Mayo means Mexico’s Independence Day which is again, a whole other holiday on September 16th. Just because this day is a day to celebrate Mexican culture, it’s not celebrated in Mexico as much as you’d think. Pueblo is the main city that celebrates the holiday as it was the city that the battle took place in. Many others don’t celebrate the holiday and believe it’s a waste of time for people who only want to party and drink.
Cinco de Mayo should be celebrated by more people to appreciate Mexico’s culture. It has already been brought to America, so why not bring it around to other countries of the world. It’s important to understand why we celebrate this holiday and how to do it appropriately while respecting the culture of Mexicans. This holiday is a good holiday and has spread wonders in the United States and increased the relationship with Mexican Americans.
We asked some people for their opinions about Cinco de Mayo. The first person we asked was Laurynne Jackson. She’s a girl that goes to Peru. We asked her about her opinion of Cinco de Mayo. She said, “I think it’s a fun holiday with good Mexican food.” We then asked Pierce Smith for his opinion. He is another kid that goes to Peru schools. He said, “I don’t know much about the holiday, but all I know is that it celebrates Mexican culture.”
