Saturday, May 05, 2012

¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

Aracely Saucillo (L) and Marylin Castillo perform with Mexica Ballet Folclorico during Cinco De Mayo festivities on May 5, 2011, at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Site on Olvera Street in downtown Los Angeles, California.  (Getty Images: Credit)


Cinco de Mayo commemorates the 1862 Battle of Puebla that took place on the the fifth day of May and it marks the defeat of invading French forces of Napoleon III by Mexican Indian soldiers.  

In the US Cinco de Mayo has been appropriated by alcohol companies/restaurants and made to look like something of a Mexican independence day.  Don't be fooled by the selling hype.  Mexico declared its independence from Spain on September16, 1810. 

This date marks the start of the Mexican War of Independence and it was largely led by indigenous Mexican forces fighting for their freedom from Spanish colonialism.

Onward!

No comments: