Today is Cinco De Mayo or Fith of May the day that the French fought with the Mexican army. This day is the day in which the French whent and attacked PUEBLA.A place that turned into the actually place where the army fought and that was were most people lived but they were ok.Now here is a little story that I found in MEXonline.com, it tells more information and facts about what happened.
The History of Cinco de Mayo
and throughout the state of Puebla, with some limited recognition in other parts of Mexico, and especially in U.S. cities with a significant Mexican population. It is not, as many people think, Mexico's Independence Day, which is actually September 16. Setting The StageThe battle at Puebla in 1862 happened at a violent and chaotic time in Mexico's history. Mexico had finally gained independence from Spain in 1821 after a difficult and bloody struggle, and a number of internal political takeovers and wars, including the Mexican-American War (1846-1848) and the Mexican Civil War of 1858, had ruined the national economy.
Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian
During this period of struggle Mexico had accumulated heavy debts to several nations, including Spain, England and France, who were demanding repayment. Similar debt to the U.S. was previously settled after the Mexican-American War. France was eager to expand its empire at that time, and used the debt issue to move forward with goals of establishing its own leadership in Mexico. Realizing France's intent of empire expansion, Spain and England withdrew their support. When Mexico finally stopped making any loan payments, France took action on its own to install Napoleon III's relative, Archduke Maximilian of Austria, as ruler of Mexico.Mexico Confronts The Invasion
Map showing Veracruz, site of the French invasion
France invaded at the gulf coast of Mexico along the state of Veracruz (see map) and began to march toward Mexico City, a distance today of less than 600 miles. Although American President Abraham Lincoln was sympathetic to Mexico's cause, and for which he is honored in Mexico, the U.S. was involved in its own Civil War at the time and was unable to provide any direct assistance.
Gen. Zaragoza
Marching on toward Mexico City, the French army encountered strong resistance near Puebla at the Mexican forts of Loreto and Guadalupe. Lead by Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin, a smaller, poorly armed militia estimated at 4,500 men were able to stop and defeat a well outfitted French army of 6,500 soldiers, which stopped the invasion of the country. The victory was a glorious moment for Mexican patriots, which at the time helped to develop a needed sense of national unity, and is the cause for the historical date's celebration. Unfortunately, the victory was short lived. Upon hearing the bad news, Napoleon III had found an excuse to send more troops overseas to try and invade Mexico again, even against the wishes of the French populace. 30,000 more troops and a full year later, the French were eventually able to depose the Mexican army, take over Mexico City and install Maximilian as the ruler of Mexico. Maximilian's rule of Mexico was also short lived, from 1864 to 1867. With the American Civil War now over, the U.S. began to provide more political and military assistance to Mexico to expel the French, after which Maximilian was executed by the Mexicans - his bullet riddled shirt is kept at the museum at Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City. So despite the eventual French invasion of Mexico City, Cinco de Mayo honors the bravery and victory of General Zaragoza's smaller, outnumbered militia at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.Today's CelebrationFor the most part, the holiday of Cinco de Mayo is more of a regional holiday in Mexico, celebrated most vigorously in the state of Puebla. There is some limited recognition of the holiday throughout the country with different levels of enthusiasm, but it's nothing like that found in Puebla. Celebrating Cinco de Mayo has become increasingly popular along the U.S.-Mexico border and in parts of the U.S. that have a high population of people with a Mexican heritage. In these areas the holiday is a celebration of Mexican culture, of food, music, beverage and customs unique to Mexico. Commercial interests in the United States and Mexico have also had a hand in promoting the holiday, with products and services focused on Mexican food, beverages and festivities, with music playing a more visible role as well. Several cities throughout the U.S. hold parades and concerts during the week following up to May 5th, so that Cinco de Mayo has become a bigger holiday north of the border than it is to the south, and being adopted into the holiday calendar of more and more people every year.
I hope you liked this brief explenation about Cinco De Mayo and now I will tell you how I celebrate Cinco De Mayo.The way that I celebrate this holiday is with a lot of traditional things like traditional foods,drinks,music and dances.Today I will only talk about the favorite kind of music and dance that I like to use in special ocasoins like this.The kind of music that I like to use in ocassions like thins is MARIACHI.Well mariachi is a kind of band that has classic instruments like tha trumpet and my favorite the acoustic guitar and de dance that they use is called FLOKORICO. This dance is a part of MARIACHI to the dancers dance this dance when the mariachi is on. The dancers have big puffy dresses with colorful layers that you can spin and toss everiwhere.Putting all that together makes a experiance that nobody would forget. And that is how I celebrate it and itis amazing.
Being here at EACPA was just the most amazing experience of my life,and the reason that I say that is because I have learned so many new and advanced things that I didn't int even new that I could achieve and actually did.For example for the first time I learned algebra a new way of finding my answers in reading and word in different languages that I didn't now that they existed.This school year has been the best year ever and I am not just saying that because we have had the most coolest field trips ever but because of the work.One of the things that I have really enjoyed is math last yer and the years before that math was hard for me and I had problems with it but with all the help from tutors and my math teachers I have learned that math is not hard it is just us the students that make it hard. Since then I have had math problems that really hard but I try to figure it out until I get the answerer.I have really learned a lot and the support of my (Math,Social Studies,Reading,Tech and Spanish) teachers have giving me.And the most important my 2 wonderful principals (Ms.Cantu and Ms.Rocha) I know that what ever happens what ever obstacle I go through because of all that love and care that my parents and especially my teachers have giving me I will always win without the fear.That's why I want to say thank you EACPA and everyone in the program, because of them I have 100% chances that I will go to college. I know I will.And nothing in this world will top the things that we did.
