El Cinco de Mayo: An American Tradition by David E.
Hayes-Bautista is a historical, societal and political look into the origins of
the popular holiday, Cinco de Mayo, as an American invention and not one
transplanted from Mexico. Knowledge about the history and origins of the
holiday had been lost in time as many celebrated with no real understanding why
it was celebrated in the first place. Maybe people incorrectly assume Cinco de
Mayo came to America with the immigrants after WWII. Mr. Hayes-Bautista
witnessed spectacular celebration of Cinco de Mayo in the US in 1960s at the
height of the Chicano movement and almost no celebrations in Mexico during the
same decade. He set out to find out way and focused his book on the development
of Cinco de Mayo in the US. What he discovered was a socially and deliberately
constructed holiday in response to the events and changes around Latinos living
in California during the Civil War.
Cinco de Mayo is a celebration commemorating the First Battle
of Puebla on May 5, 1862. The United States had been at civil war since April
1861. Napoleon III, the Emperor of France, took advantage of the US’s inability
to enforce the Monroe Doctrine (1823) and began an invasion of Mexico. The French
lost the First Battle of Puebla but continued to occupy Mexico for another five
years. So why is the First Battle of Puebla still commemorated by Latinos in
California and the US as whole today? Because a network of Latino groups in
California known as the juntas patrióticas mejicanas (Mexican Patriotic
Assemblies) helped create and maintain a public memory of the day. The juntas
used the Cinco de Mayo to encourage support defense of freedom and democracy
for the US and Mexico. The juntas eventually ended after WWII but their
influenced continued as the Latino communities grew and Cinco de Mayo became a
day to help highlight trends and problems in their communities. By 1986, the
true meaning and origins behind the holiday was truly lost in public memory.
“One of the great traditions that has come to the United States from Mexico is
the celebration of the Cinco de Mayo” (William Davila, then president of Vons
grocery stories, 1994).
Growing up in California and having the Latino influence in
my life, I was aware Cinco de Mayo referred to the Battle of Puebla; however, I
was not aware of the depth of the holiday or its true origins. As Mr.
Hayes-Bautista states, “It did not seem to occur to anyone that the
commemoration of the first battle of Puebla might have originated in
California.” Cinco de Mayo is a genuine American holiday. Created in California
and echoed in Oregon, Nevada and eventually across the nation. It originated in
devotion to basic American values of freedom and democracy. El Cinco de Mayo
is a great and detailed book as it explores the origins and growth of the Cinco
de Mayo. I now have a new understanding and greater appreciation for the
holiday. Cinco de Mayo is as American as Thanksgiving and should be celebrated
by all. I highly recommend El Cinco de Mayo for anyone who is curious
and wishes to learn more about Cinco de Mayo.
El Cinco de Mayo:
An American Tradition
is available in paperback
and eBook
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