ShelbyGerken

The fifth of May is the busiest day of the year for every Mexican restaurant across the country. However, these restaurants are not packed with people of Mexican heritage celebrating Cinco de Mayo. Instead, they’re filled with Americans.

Cinco de Mayo is not a major holiday in Mexican culture, but it has become an Americanized holiday. It is a common, yet highly incorrect, misconception that Cinco de Mayo is Mexican Independence Day 

“It’s definitely a day of pride for Mexico but people misinterpret it as a major celebration. People portray it as a day filled with tacos and sombreros. I think people should take the time to find out that Cinco de Mayo is specifically about defeating the French, not gaining independence, because we already had it,” senior Beverly Vargas said. 

Cinco de Mayo celebrates the victory of the Battle of Puebla, where Mexico defeated France. Cinco de Mayo is not the same as Mexican Independence Day, which is on Sept. 16. 

“I think that America took an opportunity to capitalize off of our culture with a holiday that was easier to pronounce,” sophomore Rosie Flores said. “My family doesn’t celebrate Cinco de Mayo because our family never has, even when we were still in Mexico. I think that it is commonly misconceived as Mexican Independence Day because people don’t actually know when Mexican Independence Day is and nobody ever mentions what Cinco de Mayo actually does celebrate; it is only ever referred to as the date.”

According to History.com, the Battle of Puebla wasn’t a strategic or major victory in the Franco-Mexican War. It was celebrated because it was an unlikely win for Mexico. They were outnumbered and unprepared yet managed to force France into a retreat. This strengthened the support of the war from the Mexican government and its citizens, acting as an overall morale booster. 

Cinco de Mayo is most heavily celebrated in Puebla, where the battle was won. There might be a parade there or a reenactment however, that is the extent of the festivities in Mexico. Stores stay open and daily life continues. It is not a major holiday.

According to the Washington Post, Americans celebrate Cinco de Mayo as more of a celebration of Hispanic culture, with parades and festivals. It has developed over time into a large American celebration as a sign of acceptance of Latino culture. Omaha hosts its yearly Cinco de Mayo Festival this year on May 10 – May 12 in South Omaha (24th Street). This year on Cinco de Mayo, encourage others to take time to research what is being celebrated before one celebrates it and take this opportunity to learn the true meaning of Cinco de Mayo.