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The Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo

The Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo is more than just a day of celebration, it is a day when Mexicans around the world recall, maintain, and reaffirm their roots. It is a tradition that marks the Mexican victory at the Battle of Puebla in 1862 over the French. Since that time no foreign power has ever invaded Mexico and Cinco de Mayo has come to symbolize an end to foreign intervention.

According to the American Heritage Dictionary, Fourth Edition, a tradition is defined as, "The passing down of elements of a culture from generation to generation, especially by oral communication" (Dictionary.com). Today the tradition of Cinco de Mayo has evolved since its creation in the late 1800s and is now celebrated by Mexican-Americans, Chicanos, and various Hispanic communities in the U.S. as a day of joyous reaffirmation. On this day these groups pass down stories of present and past hardships, failures, and victories to a new generation. The Cinco de Mayo Fiestas include many forms of Latin music, food, theatre, artwork, craft fairs and other forms of cultural expression (Vazquez www.lasculturas.com). Attendance ranges from the three-day celebration on Olvera Street in Los Angeles û which attracts half a million people û to small events sponsored by Mexican cultural programs or district wide diversity programs (Cinco de Mayo http://zedilloworld.presidencia.gob.mx).

The origins of Cinco de Mayo date back to the mid-1800s when Mexico gained its independence from Spain, but was still torn by internal struggles. The story begins in 1861 when Mexico's first Constitutional and indigenous leader, President Benito Juarez, inherited a bankrupt government. Juarez pledged to pay off all foreign debts, but announced a suspension of four years on all payments (Gonzalez www.azteca.net). In response the European countries that had lent Mexico large sums of money (England, Spain, and France) met and agreed to send troops to the country...

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The Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo. (1969, December 31). In LotsofEssays.com. Retrieved 20:14, March 28, 2024, from https://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1704374.html