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Why do we celebrate cinco de mayo?

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M

maxxpower

Member
I just watched a Corona commercial for cinco de mayo and it was nothing but white people. They were making tacos, cutting limes and preparing tequila bottles. What exactly are they celebrating?

La Batalla de Puebla isn't really that important, and I know for a fact that most Americans think cinco de mayo is Mexican Independence day.

Serious answer though, I know it's nothing more than a drinking "holiday". It's just weird to me how it became an actual thing.
 
S

smurfx

get some go again
not many mexicans i know care all that much about it. i mostly look forward to it because there's usually a good boxing ppv around that time.
 
S

Stormwatch

Member
For us it is like taco Tuesday without it being Tuesday. Just another excuse to forget about your crappy life and enjoy something fun.
 
R

Regulus Tera

Romanes Eunt Domus
The Puebla diaspora in New York and Chicago made it popular enough so the rest of the US immediately associated it with all things Mexico.
 
M

m_shortpants

Member
maxxpower said:
I just watched a Corona commercial for cinco de mayo and it was nothing but white people. They were making tacos, cutting limes and preparing tequila bottles. What exactly are they celebrating?

La Batalla de Puebla isn't really that important, and I know for a fact that most Americans think cinco de mayo is Mexican Independence day.

Serious answer though, I know it's nothing more than a drinking "holiday". It's just weird to me how it became an actual thing.
Click to expand...

I had this exact same thought watching that commercial. It said happy Cinco de mayo or something and it was nothing but white people. Got me really confused.
 
P

PSqueak

Banned
EchoChamber said:
We don't celebrate in Mexico at all, actually this thread help me to remember that day.
Click to expand...

Well, you know, we do get that day off by law, and there might not be a "official way" to celebrate 5 de mayo, but at least in the north, where i live, any day off is a good excuse to get drunk with your buddies.
 
S

skullmuffins

Banned
We do love our drinking holidays.

Why is Cinco de Mayo celebrated more in the U.S. than in Mexico?

History of Cinco de Mayo in the U.S.

In 1862, at the time the Battle of Puebla took place, the United States was engaged in its Civil War. The French presence in Mexico was a strategic move: by gaining a toehold in Mexico, the French could then support the Confederate Army. The defeat of the French at the Battle of Puebla was not definitive, but it helped to stave off the French while the U.S. Union forces made advances. Thus Cinco de Mayo can be seen as a turning point in the U.S. Civil War. Cinco de Mayo was first celebrated in the United States in Southern California in 1863 as a show of solidarity with Mexico against French rule.

Celebrations continued on a yearly basis, and by the 1930s it was seen as an opportunity to celebrate Mexican identity, promote ethnic consciousness and build community solidarity. In the 1950s and 60s Mexican-American youths appropriated the holiday and it gained a bi-national flavor, and its celebration was used as a way to build Mexican-American pride.

Celebrations sometimes acquired corporate sponsors, and this is the way the holiday began to take on a commercial flavor.

In the 1980s the holiday began to be commercialized on a wide scale. Now Cinco de Mayo is promoted as the day to celebrate Mexican food, culture, traditions, and of course, booze. For some it may just be an excuse to get drunk, but if it's also an opportunity for people to learn more about Mexican culture and history, then it's not completely wasted.
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This seems like a decent article though I can't speak to its accuracy.
 
P

PSqueak

Banned
skullmuffins said:
In 1862, at the time the Battle of Puebla took place, the United States was engaged in its Civil War. The French presence in Mexico was a strategic move: by gaining a toehold in Mexico, the French could then support the Confederate Army. The defeat of the French at the Battle of Puebla was not definitive, but it helped to stave off the French while the U.S. Union forces made advances. Thus Cinco de Mayo can be seen as a turning point in the U.S. Civil War. Cinco de Mayo was first celebrated in the United States in Southern California in 1863 as a show of solidarity with Mexico against French rule.
Click to expand...

Wow, this accurate? Had no idea of this.
 
DiscoJer

DiscoJer

Member
Because there is a need to create holiday to celebrate people and the influence of a certain culture, even if the actual event or person probably doesn't deserve to be celebrated.

It's basically like St. Patrick's Day (Irish) or Columbus Day (Italian).
 
M

manzoman96

Member
Rushersauce said:
"sink o de mayo"
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03d9ec3263940197e84eaa10b1ac5fa1.jpg
 
C

Codeblue

Member
Jessica Williams did a piece on this in 2012 and damn is it as relevant as ever. The celebratory "just drink, no politics" is reminiscent of "Just games, no politics" stuff you see on gaming side.
 
A

Alcotholic

Banned
It's a bastardized version of Mexican Independence Day. It doesn't mean much really and most Americans who celebrate it, just do it because.
I'm glad AD parodied it.
cinco_de_cuatro.jpg
 
B

Brakke

Banned
May 5 is usually around the time summer starts peeking around the corner, too. It's a nice excuse to drink margaritas and be outside.
 
Z

Zukkoyaki

Member
Young adults in America are desperate for ways to convince themselves they aren't alcoholics. Any reason to drink is good enough.

"It's a holiday/celebration, let's drink!"

... Hyperbole aside, it's just for fun like St. Patty's.
 
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