First off, are we all clear that Cinco de Mayo is not the Mexican Independence Day?
Okay, great. That day is celebrated on September 16th and commemorates the call for separation from Spanish Rule. Cinco de Mayo is more of a regional event commemorating the Mexican army’s upset victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 15, 1862. The holiday is fairly minor in most of Mexico, with the obvious exception of Puebla. It isn’t even considered an obligatory federal holiday, just a voluntary one. So, how did Cinco (we are on a first name basis) become such a big deal in the USA? For whatever reason, the Mexican community in California celebrated the victory starting in 1863 and the observance has pretty much been continuous ever since. Like many trends, Cinco celebrations spread from California to other states and developed in to a cultural celebration, much like St. Patrick’s Day, Chinese New Year and Oktoberfest have become in this country. Communities with larger Mexican populations embraced the day more than others, which explains why Arizona has embraced the
