The True Meaning of Cinco de Mayo

Not many Americans know the true meaning of Cinco de Mayo. It’s not Mexico’s Independence; it’s actually about how they made reparations to Britain, Spain, and France because they had bought things that were needed for their country but didn’t pay for them. They were able to settle with Britain and Spain diplomatically, but the French wouldn’t agree to settle. Instead, they attacked the city of Puebla with the intent of setting up a fort to aid the confederacy with money and guns, which means we could have had very different borders. However, even though they were outnumbered, the might of the Mexican military fought the French for one day and won, which was a significant celebratory achievement for the Mexican nation because they held their own against a great power.

After this momentous victory, the American president Abraham Lincoln said that he did not like that the French were occupying their southern neighbor. The French withdrew their military forces but left behind archduke Ferdinand Maximilian of Austria, which was unfortunate for the archduke because he got captured and executed in 1867.

Because of the serious nature of these events, we must celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Remember it and learn from it and its importance for both Mexican and American history. We could all be living in a very different world, but instead, the perseverance of the farmers of Puebla changed the western hemisphere and helped peace win the battle against chaos once again. This is also why Mrs. Skov’s Spanish classes did not have a Cinco de Mayo party. Instead, they created something called Talavera tiles, which are tiles that are very famous for their beauty. They began in the Iberian region but ended up in Puebla to be used for decorating their churches. They liked to put religious leaders on their religious buildings, so with the good quality clay and the artistic style of the people of Puebla, along with their remarkable perseverance, creativity, and love for their country.

So next Cinco de Mayo, remember it’s not about Mexican independence; it’s about the perseverance of the people of Puebla and how their sacrifice affected the western hemisphere - not just Mexico but also the United States.