"El Cinco de Mayo," or fifth of May, commemorates the triumphant
victory of the Mexican forces over the French interventionists in 1862.
The highly outnum
bered Mexican force s acquitted themselves in a valiant manner against the
highly trained and equipped French Army led by Veteran General Charles
Ferdinand Latrille de Lorencz.
The over confident French Forces figured they would have an easy march from the port city of Veracruz to Mexico City. However, the Mexican forces commanded by General Ignacio Zaragosa and Brigadier General Diaz, outclassed and outman
euvered the stunned stunned French Army which was humiliatingly defeated
in the fortified city of Puebla.
General Zaragosa, managed his troops with rare aplomp.
The decisive manuever of the day was carried out by Brigadier General
Diaz, who repelled a determined assault on Gen. Zaragosa's right flank.
The dejected French invaders, many vet erans of more glorio us days,
retreated to the city of Orizaba. Hence, May 5 ---"El Cinco de Mayo,"---
was added to the National Calendar of Holidays in honor of this heroic
Mexican Victory.
About a year later, after receiving 30,000
reinforcements from France, the French forces led by General Elie Forey
surrounded the city of Puebla and bombarded it into submission. However,
the glorious "Cinco de Mayo," Mexican victory,
marked the beginning of the end for the French Intervention in Mexico.
"El Cinco de Mayo," is an official holiday in Mexico
and is celebrated with a host of festivals, military parades, and formal
and official gatherings of elite social and political leaders.
In America, the 5th of May, is celebrated by
Mexican Americans in a similar fashion, but without all the conventional
formality. Hispanics commemorate this day with outdoor folk concerts,
picnics, dances, youth parades, and other relat ed festivals and
activities. "El Cinco de Mayo,"
offers Hispanics in the USA, the opportunity to touch base with their cultural heritage, and to take pride
in one of Mexico's great military victories.