2008 Woodie Awards
Cinco de Mayo is more than a Day of Celebration
Cinco de Mayo, with its many interpretations, is a holiday one can make all their own.
Tammy Funicello
Issue date: 5/4/05 Section: News
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Nearly 150 years later, the French are still getting routed at the Battle of Puebla.
"If I have the chance I will come to celebrate because that's what [Cinco de Mayo] is all about," said 32-year-old child development major Wendy Garcia about Valley College's Club Day Cinco de Mayo celebration Thursday. "It sounds like fun to be with people and celebrate a victory."
The holiday commemorates the victory of the Mexican Army over the French Army in the Battle of Puebla in 1862. On May 5, 1862, after the French attacked and ruined a Mexican fort, the Mexicans killed more than a thousand French soldiers and won the battle, but not the war. This date was declared a Mexican National Holiday to honor the army's bravery against the French.
This holiday is now celebrated more in the United States than in Mexico. It has become associated with people dancing, drinking, listening to Mariachi music and going to parades.
"My family gets together for a barbeque or sometimes we go to a park to celebrate," said 18-year-old accounting major Melissa Lopez.
The city of Los Angeles will be celebrating on Olvera Street, with live entertainment, food booths, craft tables and more May 3 through 5. While there were no ships involved in the 1862 engagement, the Queen Mary in Long Beach is having a carnival on the same days.
Valley College will also be having its own fiesta, sponsored by the M.E.Ch.A club. All week there will by films shown for free in the Lion's Den, such as "Footprints on the Asphalt," which is film surveying political causes over three recent decades. This will lead to the big celebration Thursday with guest speakers, Mexican food and a variety of music being played.
"Cinco de Mayo is a day the Chicano community celebrates because its their own holiday," said club member Erick Iniguez. "It's a time for us to celebrate our culture."
"If I have the chance I will come to celebrate because that's what [Cinco de Mayo] is all about," said 32-year-old child development major Wendy Garcia about Valley College's Club Day Cinco de Mayo celebration Thursday. "It sounds like fun to be with people and celebrate a victory."
The holiday commemorates the victory of the Mexican Army over the French Army in the Battle of Puebla in 1862. On May 5, 1862, after the French attacked and ruined a Mexican fort, the Mexicans killed more than a thousand French soldiers and won the battle, but not the war. This date was declared a Mexican National Holiday to honor the army's bravery against the French.
This holiday is now celebrated more in the United States than in Mexico. It has become associated with people dancing, drinking, listening to Mariachi music and going to parades.
"My family gets together for a barbeque or sometimes we go to a park to celebrate," said 18-year-old accounting major Melissa Lopez.
The city of Los Angeles will be celebrating on Olvera Street, with live entertainment, food booths, craft tables and more May 3 through 5. While there were no ships involved in the 1862 engagement, the Queen Mary in Long Beach is having a carnival on the same days.
Valley College will also be having its own fiesta, sponsored by the M.E.Ch.A club. All week there will by films shown for free in the Lion's Den, such as "Footprints on the Asphalt," which is film surveying political causes over three recent decades. This will lead to the big celebration Thursday with guest speakers, Mexican food and a variety of music being played.
"Cinco de Mayo is a day the Chicano community celebrates because its their own holiday," said club member Erick Iniguez. "It's a time for us to celebrate our culture."
