Cinco de mayo celebration’s originated because of a surprising battle between France, England and Spain. In 1861 all these countries sent ships to Mexico to settle a debt. Within a few months, an agreement was reached and the British and Spanish navy set sail toward home. But the French ships, by order of Napoleon III, began an attack. On May 5, 1862, 6000 soldiers under the commander of the French forces tried to capture the forts of Loreto and Guadalupe in Puebla de Los Angeles, Mexico. Two thousand Mexican men, led by General Ignazio Zaragoza, fought back hard and held the fort. Although smaller in number, the Mexican army won this battle but they did not win the war. The French conquered the country, and in 1864, a European emperor was put on the Mexican throne. Three years later, after a reign filled with problems, the emperor was deposed and killed.
In the United States, the "Batalla de Puebla" came to be known as simply "5 de Mayo" and unfortunately, many people wrongly equate it with Mexican Independence which was on September 16, 1810, nearly a fifty year difference.
While Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for the 5th of May) is celebrated in the Puebla region, the holiday has taken on more meaning outside of Mexico than within -- similar to how St. Patrick's Day is more popular in the U.S. than in Ireland. On this day, many Mexicans around the world celebrate their Mexican ancestry and many people of all backgrounds take the time to appreciate Mexican culture.
I will be doing different activities throughout the grades so students know what is being celebrated and how it is celebrated in Mexico and also in the United States.
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