The holiday is widely celebrated in the United States due to a confluence of history, politics and capitalism. In 1862, when the battle occurred, many people living in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California had been Mexican citizens just 20 years earlier before their territory was claimed by the US in the Mexican-American war. These people celebrated the defeat of the French and their descendants have continued to celebrate the holiday.
In Mexico, the holiday was popularized by Porfirio Díaz, who had fought in the battle before becoming the long-running de facto dictator of Mexico, whose reign led to the Mexican Revolution. After the revolution, Mexican citizens largely stopped celebrating the holiday while US celebrations continued.
US celebrations outside of California were mostly modest until the late 20th century when beer companies began marketing the holiday. Perhaps seeing it as an opportunity to create another St. Patrick's Day-like celebration, the marketing has largely focused on stereotypical symbols of Mexico. Marketers and beer sellers replaced shamrocks with sombreros and corned beef with tacos, and a new US party was born.
As Cinco de Mayo celebrations have grown, so too have attempts to honor the full breadth of Mexican and Indigenous culture. If you’re interested in checking out some Cinco de Mayo celebrations, here’s a few in the Twin Cities:
- St. Paul's West Side holds a massive Cinco de Mayo celebration
- Festival 5 de Mayo 2023 - Cinco de Mayo on Lake Street in Minneapolis
No comments:
Post a Comment