Let’s start with what Cinco de Mayo isn’t.
It isn’t Mexican Independence Day or the brainchild of savvy Corona distributors or even an exclusive celebration of Mexican heritage.
As for what it is? Well, it’s the fifth of May. You probably knew that.
Cinco de Mayo was first celebrated in the United States 146 years ago, and since then, it has turned into a typical American party. Put another way, it’s a good excuse to have a beer and some guacamole, even if you don’t quite know why.
Historically, Cinco de Mayo marks the Battle of Puebla, a high point for Mexican troops. On May 5, 1862, the scrappy army repelled a larger French force at Puebla.
It was not a decisive win, however. The city fell to the French the following March and was occupied for the next four years, which sort of explains why May 5 isn’t a huge deal in Mexico. The country marks its independence on Sept. 16, celebrating freedom from Spain.
Despite Cinco de Mayo’s questionable worth to Mexican independence, the day caught hold among Mexican-Americans in the 1860s. Cinco de Mayo became a time to celebrate their shared culture.
Over the decades, Cinco de Mayo’s stateside meaning grew. Now, it often serves as a broader celebration of Latin American culture. Examples abound.
For instance, Everett Community College hosted a Cinco de Mayo celebration organized by Familias Unidas on Saturday. The event celebrated Mexico, along with Central and South America. It featured a mariachi band and an ensemble playing music from the Andes.
The surest sign of the day’s universal appeal, though, is probably its hold on the marketplace.
Avocado shipments accelerate before Cinco de Mayo, according to the California Avocado Commission, with 51 million pounds expected to go out this year. That basically ties the pace set during the Super Bowl season, another good time for guacamole.
Advertisers use Cinco de Mayo as a peg. A couple of weeks ago, local grocery stores and Mexican restaurants put up Cinco de Mayo displays and banners. Tabasco urges you to “max your Mex” by putting hot sauce in your margarita, and the day has been dubbed Corona de Mayo by a certain brewer. No, not Budweiser.
With all that in mind, it looks like the meaning behind Cinco de Mayo is history — just not as a textbook intends.
Andy Rathbun: arathbun@heraldnet.com, 425-339-3455.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
