May 5th, a celebration that unites us

I hope that while you listen to us, you’re enjoying a delicious Mexican dish, or a drink that reminds you of your birthplace.

A tamale with green peppers, or with rajas and cheese, perhaps a rice pudding with hot chocolate, or champurrado.

Some tostadas with pata (a type of potato) or tinga (a type of potato) with horchata or Jamaican water, but the important thing is to remember this date, May 5th, as a celebration of Mexican culture and a recognition of our history of struggles.

May 5th marks the Battle of Puebla, which took place in 1862 and was a victory for the Mexican army under General Ignacio Zaragoza over the French army, one of the best in the world at that time, if not the best. The victory was achieved over the French army, which sought to establish political and military influence in Mexico.

The Battle of Puebla defined the course of the Mexican-French War during the Second French Intervention. Thanks to the Mexican victory, the French Imperial Army delayed its operations until it could conquer the capital.

This triumph has been taken as a symbol of the courage and resilience of the Mexican people in the face of an invading force.

It also highlights our fighting spirit and strength in the face of adversity.

Even now, in this anti-immigrant context unleashed by President Donald Trump, remembering that we are a people of struggle, courage, and honor gives us strength.

This celebration, as you know, is held in Mexican embassies and consulates in the US and has even been held at home, recognizing our culture and contribution to the life and development of the country.

For example, although it is remembered and commemorated in Mexico, it is not an official holiday or day off, May 5th has become a celebration of Latino pride. Although its origin is the Battle of Puebla, the Latino community adopted this day to remember our roots, our culture, and traditions.

According to history, in addition to the French invasion, there is another story about why we celebrate May 5th in the United States. It is that during the Mexican-American War, the territories of California, Texas, and New Mexico passed into the hands of the Americans, and the Mexican population living there remained on the other side of the border.

There were groups within the Latino community who identified with both American and Mexican culture.

By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, some Americans of Mexican origin began to adopt Mexican customs and traditions, such as the commemoration of May 5th.

In the 1940s, when the bracero program began, many Mexican workers migrated to the United States and contributed to the culture and this celebration.

But in the late 1960s, during the Chicano movement, the commemoration of the Battle of Puebla was revived and celebrated on May 5th.

During the 1980s and 1990s, this cultural identity was strengthened due to migration, so the celebration spread to other major cities.

Thus, this date was also adopted by the United States as a special day, although it is not an official one for the government.

It represents the identity of those Mexicans who have left and live in the United States, but also of their children and those of future generations.

The celebration of the Battle of May 5th is a cultural holiday celebrated by both Mexicans and Latinos in the neighboring country to the north. It is a date that surpasses that of Mexican Independence and is now a symbol of struggle and, of course, resistance.

Happy Cinco de Mayo