AboutDaniel Hogan Expertise I am knowledgable about Mexican history, especially the Mexican-American, and Revolutionary wars. I am also fluent in Spanish. Furthermore, I have primary knowledge about the Mexican Revolution of 1910 due to my grandfather participating in it. I am also a Mexican-American War reenactor. can ONLY answer q`s about Mexican history.
Experience Have traveled extensively in Mexico, gone to all the major archaeological sites, museums, and some out-of-the-way places only locals go to. I am also a bilingual school teacher and I help translate official and technical type documents.
Question hola :) i am a ninth grader in third year spanish. our spanish teacher is asking us to convince her why we as americans should celebrate cinco de mayo (other than a great excuse to listen to latino music and pig out on refried beans!!!) any help in the history of the day or the answer to my techer's question is greatly appreciated. thank you so much!!!
Answer I'm sorry to say, there really is not a good reason to celebrate Cinco de Mayo in the US, and in Mexico up until a few years ago, it was only celebrated in one city, the city where the battle took place. The Mexican-Americans in the US have insisted on celebrating this event as if it were some huge 4th of July celebration, even more so than they celebrate Mexican Independence Day, which was September 16, 1810, which has been celebrated in all Mexico for over 100 years.
I believe this reverse celebration is a result of immigrants to the US wanting something all their own, apart from Mexico/US, something thay can call their own celebration.
The battle itself was really no big deal militarily, the French still occupied the city later and then the whole country. Mexicans do not have much to celebrate in their history anyway since they were mostly on the losing side of wars and have had several revolutions, changes in governments, and really bad governments which still continue today.
So therefore, Mexican-Americans, wanting some sort of pride/separation/ from US culture have used Cinco de Mayo as a venue for this, which in my opinion, is not a good enough excuse for such a national celebration. Soon they will want a national holiday.
Thanks for using AllExperts.com.
