Cinco de Mayo. Here in the States, we celebrate it with burritos, parades, margaritas and fiestas. The holiday has taken on a pseudo carnival-like semblance here and we celebrate it in style. And although it is considered a serious holiday here, across the border it is barely celebrated other than in a fun municipalities. We celebrate it in style, but many people do not know exactly the history of Cinco de Mayo.
No, it isn't the Mexican Independence Day; that's September 16. Cinco de Mayo is the celebration of a victory of the small, fairly unequipped Mexican Army at a fort against the powerhouse French. Just as we rarely celebrate battle victories in the United States, the day goes largely unnoticed in Mexico. It is Latinos and Mexicans in Texas and California that are credited with celebrating the first Cinco de Mayo around the time of the Civil War.
The city of
Puebla in Mexico, the hub of the battle, does recognize Cinco de Mayo. Outside of this day in May, Puebla is a beautiful city to visit, steeped with history. Many of our members have been here and have reported back on the city.
Fiorentina visited in August and stated,
"
Puebla is a lovely non-touristy colonial city full of friendly people, beautiful architecture and delicious cuisine. I speak Spanish fluently and I didn't hear much English spoken in Puebla. The city is delightfully laid back and free of high pressure vendors and timeshare hawkers. The architecture and history are wonderful. Chapel of the Rosario is well worth a visit, it is stunning. The cuisine is the best I've tasted anywhere in Mexico and the prices were well below what one would find in a tourist destination. I felt safe during my entire week in Puebla and can't wait to return."
Vicho, on the history of Puebla,
The Church of San Francisco by gorboduc
"
In 1531 the Spanish came to this valley overlooked by majestic volcanoes Popocatepl and Iztaccihuatl and founded a city called Puebla de los Angeles (Village of Angels). The Spanish introduced new materials and techniques to the production of pottery, for which the city is famous up to nowadays. The city grew very quickly into an important Catholic centre."
And
gorboduc noted the culinary aspects of the city,
"Heading back towards the zocalo, we walked down the Calle de los Dulces, or Candy Street. Here, confectioners turn out Puebla's famous sweets, including camotes (candies made of sweet potato) and rompope (Mexican eggnog). The street is also studded with convents. The nuns who lived in them were the inventors of most of the confections, the recipes for which slowly seeped out to the general populous and were the impetus for the candy-making district."
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Posted by jhartmann13 (JJ Hartmann)