Break out the tequila and get ready to fiesta – it’s Cinco de Mayo!
This celebration with its roots in Mexican history takes place each year on the 5th of May. This particular date commemorates the victory of the Mexican army, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza, over the larger French Empire’s forces (under Napoleon III) on May 5, 1862 at the Battle of Puebla. In the events leading up to the battle, Mexico had undergone many financial hardships, due to numerous wars and significant government restructuring. The upshot of all this turbulence was that the country was significantly in debt.
However, on July 17, 1861, President Benito Juarez issued a two-year suspension on foreign debt re-payments. Naval forces from Britain, Spain, and France all sailed to Mexico to demand reimbursement, but Britain and Spain soon left after peaceful negotiations. France, on the other hand, was looking to establish a bigger footprint on the North American continent and thus war ensued. The French ultimately failed. This is why Mexican-Americans tend to observe Cinco de Mayo just as much as Mexicans themselves.
Celebrations typically associated with Cinco de Mayo include parades, music, story-telling, food, drinking, parties, and re-enactments of the famous battle. Interestingly, Cinco de Mayo was originally recognized as an observation day in California – not Mexico – in the year after the battle, namely 1863. It is in fact more commonly recognized in The United States than Mexico, and it is often mistaken for Mexican Independence Day (the most significant holiday in Mexico), which actually happens to fall on September 16.
¿Sabías? (Did You Know?)
Cinco de Mayo exploded in popularity across Canada and The United States in the 1980s thanks mainly to advertising campaigns by beer and wine companies. This interest has only continued to grow. Here in 2021, Cinco de Mayo is accountable for beer sales on par with the Super Bowl!
¿Sabías? (Did You Know?)
Skydive Vancouver, a skydiving club in Abbotsford, B.C., has held an annual event called the “Cinco de Mayo Boogie” each year since 2008.
Tequila Sunrise Recipe:
Fill a tall glass with ice. Pour in two ounces silver tequila, four ounces orange juice, and mix. Add half an ounce of grenadine, then garnish with an orange slice and maraschino cherry. It’s a fiesta in a glass! Salud!
