By: Daniel Nardini
Many people may not realize it, but Cinco de Mayo is as much an American tradition as it is a Mexican holiday. In his excellent book, El Cinco de Mayo: An American Tradition , Dr. David E. Hayes-Bautista explains that Cinco de Mayo not only became as important rallying cry in California as it had in Mexico, but that the tradition has changed over the decades. After the Mexican victory over the French at the First Battle of Puebla in 1862, Latinos in California also celebrated Cinco de Mayo. I should further explain that California at the time was on the side of the Union in the U.S. Civil War (1861-1865) against the Confederacy. Latinos in California, who also had relatives and close family in Mexico, were as much involved in the fight against the French invaders as they were involved in the fight against the Confederacy. For the Latinos in California, the fight in Mexico and against the Confederacy were the same fight—the fight for union, against slavery, for democracy and against invaders. Latinos in California not only volunteered to fight for the Union, but also volunteered to help the Mexican government of then Mexican Benito Juarez against the French invaders. It was not unusual for Latinos supporting the war effort in both the United States and Mexico to carry the portraits of Juarez and U.S. President Abraham Lincoln in rallies and demonstrations during that time.
In the 1920’s and 1930’s, Cinco de Mayo came to symbolize the Mexican immigrant experience. During World War II, Cinco de Mayo came to mean both Mexican identity and patriotism as both Americans and Mexicans for those Latinos living in California. At the time the United States and Mexico were in a common war effort, and Latinos not only from California but also from other states joined the U.S. and Mexican armed forces to fight in Europe and Asia. In the 1960’s and early 1970’s, Cinco de Mayo came to symbolize the Chicano movement and the fight to maintain the Latino identity. While the tradition of Cinco de Mayo changed from one period to the next, the tradition of celebrating Cinco de Mayo in California has remained the same since it was first celebrated with Mexico’s victory over the French at the First Battle of Puebla. Eventually the tradition of celebrating Cinco de Mayo has now spread to all parts of the United States, and has become as much a part of the Mexican American experience as has the celebration of Mexican Independence Day on September 16th. For my readers, I highly recommend El Cinco de Mayo: An American Tradition , by Dr. David E. Hayes-Bautista.
An American Tradition
By: Daniel Nardini
In the 1920’s and 1930’s, Cinco de Mayo came to symbolize the Mexican immigrant experience. During World War II, Cinco de Mayo came to mean both Mexican identity and patriotism as both Americans and Mexicans for those Latinos living in California. At the time the United States and Mexico were in a common war effort, and Latinos not only from California but also from other states joined the U.S. and Mexican armed forces to fight in Europe and Asia. In the 1960’s and early 1970’s, Cinco de Mayo came to symbolize the Chicano movement and the fight to maintain the Latino identity. While the tradition of Cinco de Mayo changed from one period to the next, the tradition of celebrating Cinco de Mayo in California has remained the same since it was first celebrated with Mexico’s victory over the French at the First Battle of Puebla. Eventually the tradition of celebrating Cinco de Mayo has now spread to all parts of the United States, and has become as much a part of the Mexican American experience as has the celebration of Mexican Independence Day on September 16th. For my readers, I highly recommend El Cinco de Mayo: An American Tradition , by Dr. David E. Hayes-Bautista.