Cinco de Mayo, a brief overview.

What it is, what it started as, and how you should celebrate.

Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico’s independence day.

In Mexico, Cinco de Mayo, is when the Batalla de Puebla is celebrated. It was a battle between the French and Mexican armies. That day marked the victory of the Mexican Army forces against that of the French which was considered one of the more powerful and capable armies at the time. Here is an article from the New York Times that answers commonly asked questions regarding this day!

What has since morphed into a day-long happy hour can still be celebrated, but be mindful of tasteless appropriation of Mexican culture. Donning a sombrero and maracas is unnecessary and for a lot of Mexican people it can be downright hurtful. We do not speak for the country as a whole, but on a day that was intended to celebrate a victory we like to remind people of it’s true significance when bombarded by stereotypes and knock-off ponchos.

So, continue to partake in celebration today. Share this newfound knowledge with co-workers or friends, and remember to be mindful. While today might be a great day to flex your Spanish, remember that any other day it isn’t uncommon for native Spanish speakers to get side-eyed or harassed for not speaking English. If you hear someone imitating a thick Spanish accent, it could be helpful to remind them that people with accents don’t get to turn it on and off whenever they please. They are often stuck repeating themselves to be understood or constantly corrected when speaking their second language.

Part of being a great neighbor is being open to change and new information. We are always learning, and we hope this helps! Happy Neighboring.