Cinco de Mayo

Celebration Facts

• Cinco de mayo is a day to remember and honor the soldiers who died and/or risked their lives for Mexico’s freedom.
• It is also a day of Mexican culture and heritage.
• There are various ways to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, although in Mexico they celebrate this day by having a parade and dressing as Mexican and French soldiers.
• There are many people who celebrate Cinco de Mayo, some of these people would be Hispanics and people in the U.S.A.
• The largest celebration of Cinco de Mayo is held in Los Angeles.
• Cinco de Mayo is NOT Mexico's Independence Day.

What caused the conflict that led to the Battle of Puebla?

• The conflict that led to the Battle of Puebla is Mexico wouldn’t pay Franc their debt because Juarez felt that they were too poor.
• The conflict between these countries lasted 5 years. (1862-1867)

Foods

• Mole - the generic name for a number of sauces that were originally used in Mexican cuisine. Although, it is most of the time chicken topped with brown sauce. (Mole)
• Chorizo - a spicy spanish pork sausage.
• Flan - a baked dish that consists of an open-topped pastry case with a savory or sweet filling.
• Mexican food is usually a mix of beans, corn, tortilla, vanilla, tomato, avocado, hot peppers, chips, and chocolate.
• Common foods found in the Mexican diet are flour for tortillas,beans, cheese, hot peppers, tomatoes, green peppers, cabbage, sour cream, avocados, onions, chicken, beef, pork and spices.
• Taco actually means, “ A Mexican Dish”, or is a derogatory term for a Spanish person.
• Some of the Mexican dishes we eat today are chili, fajitas, salsa, tortilla chips, corn chips, chimichangas, quesadillas, and burritos

Music

• " La Cucaracha " is a folk song that makes fun of Mexican rebels, similar to Yankee Doodle Dandy. It is also the famous Mexican Cockroach song.
• Mariachi music is something that’s influenced by cultural impacts of historical events.
• Instruments in Mariachi music consist of violins, vihuelas, trumpets, guitars, flutes, horns, and Maracas.
• Two famous Mariachi's today are El Mariachi Bronx- Today they play as backup for many different bands, right now they aren’t well known but are trying to make a name for themselves. El Mariachi de Pueblo-They are over 40 years old, they have around 25 different members, they often perform in Mexico and Colorado, and they had a celebration in Colorado for El Cinco de Mayo.
• Tejano music is also referred to as Tex-Mex music and has various forms of music such as folk and popular music originating among the Hispanic populations of Central and Southern Texas.
• Traditional Dances, Jarabe Tapatio, and the Hat Dance are popular dances that occur in Cinco de Mayo.
• Love lost is the mostly used theme in Mexican music/songs.

Facts

• Cinco de Mayo is significant to Americans because the victory of Mexico over France helped shape the U.S.A.
• France's excuse for invading Mexico was that Juarez suspended his payments.
• The space that was originally the battlefield of the Battle of Puebla is now a park with a statue of General Zaragoza on a horse.
• There were about 4,000 Mexican soldiers fighting 8,000 French soldiers.
• The victory of Puebla was important because although the Mexican troops had very little armor they still beat the French troops who were heavily armed, which proved they would stop at nothing for their freedom.

Traditions

• "Viva Mexico!" is an important Mexican battle cry.
• Typical costumes in Cinco de Mayo are very colorful, have some type of flare in it, and have various designs.
• Maracas and Sombreros are decorations used in Cinco de Mayo.