At Buena Park High School, a high percentage of our school community has Mexican heritage in their families. Our school has many programs, such as the Latino club, representing Mexican culture. For example, when our yearly assembly international day is held, our students bring to life the Mexican heritage culture with a baile folklórico. On our sports team here at school, for example, the soccer team is 80% Mexican. Carrying that out on the field has given our program a lot of chemistry and bonds. For May, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated throughout our very own families, especially those who are from Puebla. Our coyotes celebrate this as a way to honor Mexican American culture. Not only at Buena Park High School but in the entire city of Buena Park, a large number of our fellow neighbors are Mexican American, either having parents born in Mexico or relatives as well, bringing our families all together.
In today’s day, Cinco de Mayo has changed a lot. Many people who are from Mexico have said words like Cinco de Mayo are important, or as important as it was in the past. Many people, especially in the United States, have confused the Battle of Puebla with be version of July 4th, being Independence Day. For Mexico, its independence day is September 16. Many people may say that’s offensive the way American or white people celebrate Cinco de Mayo without knowing the true meaning.
In Southern California, there are many events related to or even themed as Cinco de Mayo, some have made families come together and celebrate to bring back the spirit of Cinco de Mayo. A Cinco de Mayo event is Cinco de Mayo Cup A soccer tournament in socal which holds many teams across the cities come to one sports complex to compete in the cinco de mayo based tournament, With our very own coyotes participating in the event with their club soccer team, even going all the way in the tournament and taking the cinco de Mayo Cup trophy home. Great job to our coyotes who participated. Another event is the beach festivals at the Southern California beaches, which bring out the top energy and pride. In the area of Los Angeles, there are many street parades with a lot of fun and food to explore. One of the biggest events there is the Canelo Alvarez fight, which, each year, Cinco de Mayo weekend, takes the stage in Las Vegas to put on a show for the Mexican boxing fans. His boxing matches have played a big role in keeping Cincos Demayo alive, as watching him battle and fight makes us remember the battle Mexico put up against France for the Battle of Puebla. Usually, Cinco de Mayo parties are held the day Canelo has his boxing matches, with families bringing out some of the best Mexican dishes and snacks to enjoy the show for Cinco de Mayo weekend.
Fun facts for Cinco de Mayo
40% of Americans believe Cinco de Mayo is Mexico’s Independence Day
Cinco de Mayo is not a national holiday in Mexico
America has big events for Cinco de Mayo in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Houston
Countries like Canada and Japan celebrate within their communities
Franklin D. Roosevelt made a policy creating Cinco de Mayo to be an American holiday
Eighty-seven million pounds of avocados are eaten on Cinco de Mayo
Food
On Cinco de Mayo, many dishes are prepared that are even considered to be fan favorites for Mexican culture. From a million pounds of food being eaten each day, these are some of the favorites to celebrate Cinco de Mayo
In our country, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated all across. With cities even having their own parades and music with dancing and special cultural dances. Many mariachis play the beautiful music of Mexican culture all across the country. The dancers are dressed in traditional Mexican clothing, taking away the streets. The colors red, white, and green flags are waved to signify their honor and respect for Mexico.
Cinco de Mayo is celebrated because it is the day that a small Mexican army was able to beat a strong French force that was taking over the country, leaving Mexico to be something we wouldn’t know today. The reason France invaded Mexico was that Mexico had not yet paid its debts to other European countries. The odds for the Mexican army to win that war were slim to almost none. That didn’t stop them from doing the impossible. The French army was led by General Charles de Lorencez, as the Mexican army was being led by General Ignacio Zaragoza, who is now forever going to be known as the general who won a seemingly impossible battle to win.
This picture resembles what the battle of Puebla, which is now known as Cinco de Mayo, looked like during the hours of the battle, where the Mexican troops took down the French, who had many more men and power over the Mexican army.
The Battle of Puebla took place on May 5th in 1862, during the years the French were taking over Mexico. The actual French invasion began on April 9, 1862. The French were moving quickly together, winning battles throughout the country, even then inviting Mexico to join them. France won a battle at Escamela and captured General Orizaba.
The French decided to storm the forts of Loreto and Guadalupe, a place of land that sits on hills overlooking the beautiful city of Puebla. The French army had weapons that Mexican armies had never even seen, but that didn’t change the pride and honor they had for their country, and they went to battle with the French forces.
During the French-Mexican War, on the French side, around 14,000 people were killed, while on the Mexican side, over 31,000 people were killed. With the French having so-called better weapons, this is seen in the number of deaths caused, but in the battle of Peubla, 460 French were killed while Mexico had 83 that were killed. The Battle of Puebla gave them more hope and boosted their confidence afterwards. Although the conflict with France and Mexico continued, the Battle of Puebla was what meant a lot to Mexico. The battles lasted from December 8, 1861, until June 21, 1867. Mexico’s Republican forces achieved victory over France.
This is Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin. He was born on March 24, 1829, in Presidio La Bahia historic site, TX He is of Mexican nationality. His parents’ names are Miguel Zaragoza and Maria de Jesus Seguin. he served as the general of the Mexican troops at the battle of Puebla. He led the 3,791 men of Mexico to take down the 5,730 French troops at the Battle of Puebla and will forever be recognized and respected as the general who changed history and won an important battle of the French invasion of Mexico. He sadly passed away later the same year on September 8, 1962, 8 days from what will be Mexico’s Independence Day, September 16.
