Ditch the Fake Moustaches and Bad Tequila - There are Better Reasons to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo

Introduction

For obvious reasons, Cinco de Mayo 2020 will likely not involve large hoards of people roaming the streets in oversized sombreros and fake moustaches, bar hopping in search of subpar tequila and toasting to a holiday widely mistaken as Mexican Independence Day. We’re not discouraging you from using the day as an excuse to enjoy some tacos and Dos Equis in the privacy of your own home, but while you’re sitting there, why not use this virtual holiday to learn Cinco de Mayo’s true history? Even though the holiday is widely misunderstood in the United States, the full story of Cinco de Mayo and its connection to the Union’s Civil War victory provides much to celebrate on both sides of the border.

A Brief History

If you think Mexico is chaotic today, keep in mind that unlike the majority of Latin American countries, Mexico’s government has not been forcibly overturned in nearly a century. This was not always the case. The 19th Century was a time of significant civil turmoil that only grew worse after Mexico gained independence from Spain in 1810. Much of the conflict was between Conservatives associated with the Catholic Church and Liberals associated with the growing business and professional class of workers who pushed for economic and democratic modernization. These two groups clashed in a civil war beginning in 1857. The Liberals were led by Benito Juarez, who captured Mexico City in 1861.

Both the French and the Mexican Conservatives who supported them sympathized with the Confederacy during the U.S. Civil War. Southern textiles made with cotton were crucial to the trade relationship with Europe, which was affected by the Union’s embargo of Southern ports. The Union was aware of the risks of an alliance between the Confederacy, Mexico, and Europe. Despite recognition of the Juarez regime by the United States, Mexico’s foreign debt to countries like Spain, Britain, and France became unmanageable. To prevent Mexico from defaulting on its foreign debt, the Lincoln Administration tried to offer Mexico a debt-relief package, which the U.S. Congress rejected.

When Mexico defaulted, French Emperor Napoleon III invaded Mexico and installed the Archduke of Austria Maximilian of Habsburg as the new Emperor of Mexico. In 1862, the French landed in the Port City of Veracruz and began their march towards Mexico City. When they reached the heavily fortified city of Puebla, they sustained a humiliating defeat led by Mexican general Ignacio Zaragoza. This Battle of Puebla is the reason the city still holds parades and celebrations on Cinco de Mayo.

Although the French would later send reinforcements and occupy the country until 1866, their defeat in the Battle of Puebla delayed their momentum at a time when the Confederacy most needed a French alliance. The Battle of Puebla occurred at a time when the Confederacy was winning crucial battles and advancing against the Union. By the time the French retook Mexico the following year, the Union had already regained its footing and was on its way to winning the war.

Some historians speculate that had the French defeat at the Battle of Puebla not delayed French’s colonial ambitions for a year, the French may have provided crucial assistance to the Confederacy by, for example, freeing Southern ports from a Union Blockade. Though this outcome is difficult to know for certain, the Battle of Puebla likely had some impact on the U.S. Civil War and at least serves as an important symbol of Mexico and the United States shedding their colonial past and evolving into more modern and democratic societies.

Lessons for Today

U.S. celebrations of Cinco de Mayo began with Mexican-Americans in California. This group raised money and sent troops to support Mexico’s fight against the French invasion and celebrated when they learned of Mexico’s victory in Puebla.

When writing about why Cinco de Mayo has evolved into more of an American than Mexico holiday, UCLA professor David Hayes-Bautista wrote: “It is an American Civil War holiday, created spontaneously by Mexicans and Latinos living in California who supported the fragile cause of defending freedom and democracy during the first years of that bloody war.”

“Far up in the gold country town of Columbia (California, now Columbia State Park), Mexican miners were so overjoyed at the news that they spontaneously fired off rifles shots and fireworks, sang patriotic songs and made impromptu speeches,” Hayes-Bautista wrote.

These early celebrations evolved into modern variations with Mariachis and Ballet Folklorico, first in California and then spreading nationwide over the past few decades. Unfortunately, the holiday has largely been appropriated by a significant chunk of Americans who use it as an opportunity to perpetuate cheap Mexican stereotypes while not bothering to understand even basic Mexican culture. The celebration highlights how despite Mexico’s proximity to the United States and the millions of Mexicans living here, Americans tend to know or care very little about their Southern neighbors. Mexican Americans comprise over 10% of the U.S. population and near majorities of the populations of many southern states. Many of these people grow, cook, and serve the food on the table. Some pursue white-collar jobs but are hindered by their undocumented status. With the pandemic, millions of undocumented people are not only out of work but without a stimulus safety net. On the other hand, many others own businesses and comprise one of the fastest growing groups of entrepreneurs in the country. Mexico is part of the fabric of the United States and shares both its successes and struggles. Mexicans make America turn and also hurt hard when America hurts.

As many of us will be sitting on the couch this holiday, Cinco de Mayo 2020 may be a good opportunity to put a pause on how we’ve been doing things and think of ways to reimagine the holiday (and our entire approach to Mexican culture) in the years to come. Let’s trash the fake moustaches, subpar tequila, and hard-shell tacos and look back to history to honor what the holiday should really be about. Cinco de Mayo should be a day of solidarity between the two marginalized groups that will truly make America great again: Mexican Americans on both sides of the border who work hard to survive, often with little reward, and African Americans who also continue their fight towards equality over 100 years after the Union defeated the Confederacy and ended slavery.

If you’re a stickler for authenticity…

Puebla is the place to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in the most traditional fashion. Located a couple hours from Mexico City, Puebla is the only place Mexico that seriously celebrates Cinco de Mayo. Puebla is the fourth most populous city in Mexico and has a rich history that incorporates not only French culture from the occupation but also hints of Lebanese, Chinese, and other cultures that have influenced the city since its founding in 1531. It has a strong rivalry with Oaxaca for some of the best Mexican food in the country, which includes its own types of moles and chiles relleno. It is also the located next to Cholula, a city with vibrant nightlife where you can enjoy a rooftop drink overlooking a cathedral that the Spaniards built on top of an ancient pyramid.

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Sources

https://www.library.pima.gov/blogs/post/cinco-de-mayo-the-american-civil-war-co

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/we-get-cinco-de-mayo-wrong-but-were-not-wrong-to-celebrate-it/2019/05/03/7d15659e-6dbb-11e9-8f44-e8d8bb1df986_story.htmlnnection/

https://history.state.gov/milestones/1861-1865/french-intervention