Comments on: Did You Know? Cinco de Mayo Celebrates the Battle of Puebla

By: Richard Byrne

Richard Byrne — Thu, 09 May 2013 08:45:24 +0000

The French had not lost a battle in fifty years? That rather leaves out Waterloo …

By: kerin gould

kerin gould — Wed, 05 May 2010 19:39:06 +0000

Did you know? Nobody in Mexico celebrates Cinco de Mayo except in downtown Puebla, and even that is no biggie? I used to live in an Indigenous community in Puebla and nobody in the whole Sierra celebrates. They only know the date from elementary school history lessons. It has turned into Mexican-American Day, a celebration of mestizo Mexicans in the US trying to maintain some culture, unity, and identity. It makes something happy out of nostalgia. It has much more similarity to St. Patricks for Irish descendants day or Columbus Day for Italian descendants. And that’s a good thing, because then other immigrant-descendants will get to know their Mexican neighbors in a positive light.

By: Blanca

Blanca — Wed, 05 May 2010 19:19:04 +0000

Thanks for this brief explanation!

I’m from Mexico and few years ago while visiting US I noticed that people celebrate this day as the mexican Independence day. I learned more of this looking for an answer:
Juarez renegotiated the debt through “La soledad agreement”. England and Spain returned to their countries, but France refused to comply this, so deciding to attack. The mexican victory was important to US people because French invasion supposed a risk to the US sovereignty and attempt against US interests, we must remember that American Civil War was taking place when France invaded Mexico. I think this is the main reason why Americans celebrate this day as Mexicans celebrate September 16.

By: Brian Wolly

Brian Wolly — Wed, 05 May 2010 14:55:25 +0000

Thanks for catching our error, George! It’s been fixed.

By: George

George — Wed, 05 May 2010 14:22:39 +0000

Hahahaha unknown city in the photo? OOOOps !!!! … Smithsonian guys thats the main square in Mexico City !! ..