Happy Cinco De Mayo from Pump Products!

Happy Cinco de mayo from pump products
Inspector Pumphead wants to share his love of Cinco De Mayo

Happy Cinco De Mayo from Pump Products! 

This great holiday is a fun-filled celebration of Mexico and Mexican culture. It’s a day for eating Mexican cuisine, listening to Mexican music and learning about Mexican history. In some ways, the holiday is even bigger in the U.S. than it is in its native country. It is much the equivalent of Saint Patrick’s day for the Irish. So grab a taco and a Mexican beer and read a little about the history behind this day.

What is the Day About?

Cinco De Mayo celebrates the famous victory by the Mexican Army over the French Army at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. The context of the events leading up to the battle are thorny and complex; suffice to say that money was a major issue. Before the conflict proper, a mix of postcolonial malaise, religious fervor and bloodshed left Mexico nearly bankrupt. In 1861, the Mexican President halted all payments to foreign creditors, which certainly did not sit well with European powers such as France, Britain and Spain.

All three nations sent forces to Mexico to get their money, but negotiations were made and hostilities averted – with Spain and England, that is. Napoleon III, Emperor of France, was itching to follow in his uncle’s footsteps and create an Empire, this one in Latin America. The French forces pressed on and marched on Mexico City. A small 2,000 man strong Mexican force was defending the city of Puebla against a much better equipped and much larger (approx. 6,000) French force. Through some luck, clever tactics and a lack of foresight on the part of the French, the Mexican garrison at Puebla managed to turn back the assault.

While the strategic importance of the victory has been disputed by historians, there is no doubt that it resonated emotionally with the Mexican populace and indeed, the world. Everyone loves a good underdog story right? Since 1862, celebrations and reenactments have been held in honor of the event, although the day is not technically a federal holiday in Mexico, nor is it considered a major holiday.

The Modern Holiday

The celebrations in the United States began not long after the actual battle. It is believed that Mexican miners working in California started the tradition by shooting fireworks and firing guns after hearing of the news. The holiday grew among the Chicano population in California and gradually spread to other parts of the country with significant Mexican populations. Critically, it started to grow beyond the celebration of a single battle to a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage itself.

Cinco De Mayo first truly hit the national consciousness in the early 1980’s – and it was largely because of beer companies. The beer companies sensed the potential to add a day to the calendar in which beer could be a primary consumer focus. Extensive marketing about celebrating Cinco De Mayo was pushed and the holiday moved to the forefront.

In 2005, Congress issued a resolution calling on the President to issue a proclamation for the observance of the day with “appropriate ceremonies and activities.” And that’s how we got Cinco De Mayo. So grab some avocados and tequila, order the Alvarez-Chavez fight and enjoy.

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