CINCO
DE MAYO
by Richard Solash
You are strolling through the historic
main square admiring colonial architecture, when all of
a sudden you hear gunshots. Soldiers march in, swords
are brandished, and you exclaim, “Of all the days
to be in Puebla, Mexico!” Well, your reaction is
quite fitting—but it is panic-free. That’s because
you are in Puebla on May 5, or Cinco de Mayo, a date that
gives the entire country, but especially this city, a
reason to celebrate. It was here in 1862 that an outnumbered
and under-equipped national militia defeated its better-prepared
French foes, generating enormous cause for Mexican pride
in the process. Today, the townspeople dress in soldiers’
garb and “fight” it out, the Mexican side is
of course victorious, and a fireworks display caps off
the victory. Food stands are also nearby to provide post-battle
replenishment. The history books will tell you that despite
the Mexican win on the fifth of May, the French were not
evicted until 1867. It was only then that Napoleon’s
installed ruler, Maximilian of Austria, met his fate (his
bullet-riddled shirt is now on display in Mexico City).
www.visitmexico.com
[Published:
May, 2008]
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