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The Herald Scotland
06-05-2025
- General
- The Herald Scotland
Cinco de Mayo 2025: Mexican holiday's meaning, origin explained
Americans, including people of Mexican American heritage, along with our neighbors in Mexico, celebrate with parades, festivals, music and food. This year, Cinco de Mayo falls on Monday, May 5. While Cinco de Mayo honors Mexico's resilience and bravery in the face of strife, the holiday has also become, for some, an excuse to party. "Everyone thinks that it's just party time, it's Corona time," Mario Garcia, a Chicanx historian from the University of California at Santa Barbara, shared in a May 2023 interview with USA TODAY. "It's OK for people to go out and have a good time on a holiday like Cinco de Mayo -- at least they have some sense that it's some kind of a Mexican holiday," Garcia said. "But we should go beyond that. We should have Cinco de Mayo events that go beyond partying and drinking, where we call attention to what the history is." Here's what to know about the origins of Cinco de Mayo, and how it's celebrated in the U.S. today. Why is Cinco de Mayo often confused with Mexico's Independence Day? Though many might know the lore behind Cinco de Mayo, it is often confused with Mexico's Independence Day, which falls on Sept. 16. It is known as the Dia de la Independencia in Mexico. Part of the confusion about what Cinco de Mayo celebrates likely stems from the names of the two holidays, which might be harder for some English speakers to say. Cinco de Mayo is much catchier than the day of Mexico's independence (Diez y seis de Septiembre), Garcia said. Another issue is that not enough American schools teach the importance of Chicanx history and its peoples' contributions to the U.S. "When you study the history of Chicanos and Latinos, of course, they've been history makers," Garcia said. "They've been involved in all aspects of American history, not to mention the wars ... In World War II alone, almost half a million Latinos - mostly Mexican Americans - fought in the war. And they won a disproportionate number of congressional Medals of Honor." The Battle at Puebla also occurred more than 50 years after the country broke free of Spanish rule. The reason the battle happened in the first place was because French Emperor Charles-Louis Napoleon Bonaparte wanted to claim Mexico for himself. The French sent troops to force President Benito Juarez and the government out of Veracruz, Mexico. An outnumbered band of Mexican soldiers faced 6,000 French troops at daybreak in Puebla, a city in east-central Mexico, on May 5, 1862. Mexico, miraculously, was able to claim victory by the evening, at which time Juarez declared May 5 a national holiday. The victory also helped prevent the French from settling in and helping the American Confederacy in the Civil War, according to Why is Cinco de Mayo more popular in the U.S. than in Mexico? Cinco de Mayo celebrations do occur in Mexico, most notably in the City of Puebla; those events don't compare to Dia de la Independencia celebrations, Garcia said. Meanwhile, in the U.S, it's become an annual celebration of Mexican American culture. It began as a form of resistance to the effects of the Mexican-American War in the late 19th century. The holiday gained popularity during the Chicano Movement of the 1960s and 1970s. "It becomes a Chicano holiday, in many ways, linked to the Chicano movement, because we discover Mexicans resisting a foreign invader," Garcia said. "They link the struggle of the Chicano movement to Cinco de Mayo." Companies, especially beer companies and restaurants, began commercializing the holiday in the 1980s, offering customers "Cinco de Mayo" specials and cocktails. The holiday is now known to some as Cinco de Drinko, and to Garcia as "Corona Day." This Cinco de Mayo, Garcia hopes everyone enjoys their Coronas, but perhaps with a little history lesson to wash it down. Cinco de Mayo celebrated around the U.S. San Diego: San Diego's Cinco de Mayo celebrations were held May 3 and 4 in Old Town San Diego. Activities included live music, folklorico, dining and drink specials. Denver: The Mile High City hosted several holiday-related activities over the weekend of May 3 for Cinco de Mayo Denver, from a community parade to chihuahua races. Events were held May 3-4 at Denver Civic Center Park from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. St. Paul, Minnesota: St. Paul's annual Cinco de Mayo celebration was in the city's West Side neighborhood and was one of Minnesota's largest Latino events. This year, festivities were held May 3 and included live performances, a car show and pro wrestling. San Antonio, Texas: Fiesta San Antonio is a 10-day celebration of state history and culture with parades, fairs, art shows, music and food. Festivities continued until Sunday, May 4. Los Angeles: Fiesta Broadway, one of the largest Latino and Cinco de Mayo festivals in the world, runs down four blocks in downtown Los Angeles. The annual festival happened this year on April 27, according to event organizers. Contributing: Emily DeLetter, Jordan Mendoza and Maria Jimenez Moya, USA TODAY
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
What is Cinco de Mayo? What to know about Mexican holiday commemorating famous battle
Before Cinco de Mayo became associated with tacos and margaritas, the day served as a reminder of Mexico's triumph over the French. Celebrated annually, Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army's victory over the Second French Empire, led by Napoleon III, at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, hence the name. The holiday is celebrated across the U.S. and in parts of Mexico, particularly in the City of Puebla, where the epic battle took place. Americans, including people of Mexican American heritage, along with our neighbors in Mexico, celebrate with parades, festivals, music and food. This year, Cinco de Mayo falls on Monday, May 5. While Cinco de Mayo honors Mexico's resilience and bravery in the face of strife, the holiday has also become, for some, an excuse to party. "Everyone thinks that it's just party time, it's Corona time," Mario García, a Chicanx historian from the University of California at Santa Barbara, shared in a May 2023 interview with USA TODAY. "It's OK for people to go out and have a good time on a holiday like Cinco de Mayo -- at least they have some sense that it's some kind of a Mexican holiday," García said. "But we should go beyond that. We should have Cinco de Mayo events that go beyond partying and drinking, where we call attention to what the history is." Here's what to know about the origins of Cinco de Mayo, and how it's celebrated in the U.S. today. Though many might know the lore behind Cinco de Mayo, it is often confused with Mexico's Independence Day, which falls on Sept. 16. It is known as the Día de la Independencia in Mexico. Part of the confusion about what Cinco de Mayo celebrates likely stems from the names of the two holidays, which might be harder for some English speakers to say. Cinco de Mayo is much catchier than the day of Mexico's independence (Diez y seis de Septiembre), García said. Another issue is that not enough American schools teach the importance of Chicanx history and its peoples' contributions to the U.S. "When you study the history of Chicanos and Latinos, of course, they've been history makers," García said. "They've been involved in all aspects of American history, not to mention the wars ... In World War II alone, almost half a million Latinos – mostly Mexican Americans – fought in the war. And they won a disproportionate number of congressional Medals of Honor." The Battle at Puebla also occurred more than 50 years after the country broke free of Spanish rule. The reason the battle happened in the first place was because French Emperor Charles-Louis Napoléon Bonaparte wanted to claim Mexico for himself. The French sent troops to force President Benito Juárez and the government out of Veracruz, Mexico. An outnumbered band of Mexican soldiers faced 6,000 French troops at daybreak in Puebla, a city in east-central Mexico, on May 5, 1862. Mexico, miraculously, was able to claim victory by the evening, at which time Juárez declared May 5 a national holiday. The victory also helped prevent the French from settling in and helping the American Confederacy in the Civil War, according to Cinco de Mayo celebrations do occur in Mexico, most notably in the City of Puebla; those events don't compare to Día de la Independencia celebrations, García said. Meanwhile, in the U.S, it's become an annual celebration of Mexican American culture. It began as a form of resistance to the effects of the Mexican-American War in the late 19th century. The holiday gained popularity during the Chicano Movement of the 1960s and 1970s. "It becomes a Chicano holiday, in many ways, linked to the Chicano movement, because we discover Mexicans resisting a foreign invader," García said. "They link the struggle of the Chicano movement to Cinco de Mayo." Companies, especially beer companies and restaurants, began commercializing the holiday in the 1980s, offering customers "Cinco de Mayo" specials and cocktails. The holiday is now known to some as Cinco de Drinko, and to García as "Corona Day." This Cinco de Mayo, García hopes everyone enjoys their Coronas, but perhaps with a little history lesson to wash it down. San Diego: San Diego's Cinco de Mayo celebrations were held May 3 and 4 in Old Town San Diego. Activities included live music, folklorico, dining and drink specials. Denver: The Mile High City hosted several holiday-related activities over the weekend of May 3 for Cinco de Mayo Denver, from a community parade to chihuahua races. Events were held May 3-4 at Denver Civic Center Park from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. St. Paul, Minnesota: St. Paul's annual Cinco de Mayo celebration was in the city's West Side neighborhood and was one of Minnesota's largest Latino events. This year, festivities were held May 3 and included live performances, a car show and pro wrestling. San Antonio, Texas: Fiesta San Antonio is a 10-day celebration of state history and culture with parades, fairs, art shows, music and food. Festivities continued until Sunday, May 4. Los Angeles: Fiesta Broadway, one of the largest Latino and Cinco de Mayo festivals in the world, runs down four blocks in downtown Los Angeles. The annual festival happened this year on April 27, according to event organizers. Contributing: Emily DeLetter, Jordan Mendoza and Maria Jimenez Moya, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cinco de Mayo 2025: Mexican holiday's meaning, origin explained
Indianapolis Star
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
Cinco de Mayo is May 5, 2025. Here's what to know about the history of the holiday.
Cinco de Mayo has become a day to celebrate Mexican heritage, especially in the United States, but before Cinco de Mayo became associated with tacos and margaritas, the day served as a reminder of Mexico's triumph over the French. Here's what to know about the holiday. When is Cinco de Mayo 2025? Cinco de Mayo falls on Monday, May 5, 2025. What is Cinco de Mayo? Celebrated annually, Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army's victory over the Second French Empire, led by Napoleon III, at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, hence the name. The holiday is celebrated across the U.S. and in parts of Mexico, particularly in the City of Puebla, where the epic battle took place. Story continues after photo gallery. How do people celebrate Cinco de Mayo? Americans, including people of Mexican American heritage, along with our neighbors in Mexico, celebrate with parades, festivals, music and food. While Cinco de Mayo honors Mexico's resilience and bravery in the face of strife, the holiday has also become, for some, an excuse to party. "Everyone thinks that it's just party time, it's Corona time," Mario García, a Chicanx historian from the University of California at Santa Barbara, shared in a May 2023 interview with USA TODAY. "It's OK for people to go out and have a good time on a holiday like Cinco de Mayo -- at least they have some sense that it's some kind of a Mexican holiday," García said. "But we should go beyond that. We should have Cinco de Mayo events that go beyond partying and drinking, where we call attention to what the history is." Why is Cinco de Mayo often confused with Mexico's Independence Day? Though many might know the lore behind Cinco de Mayo, it is often confused with Mexico's Independence Day, which falls on Sept. 16. It is known as the Día de la Independencia in Mexico. Part of the confusion about what Cinco de Mayo celebrates likely stems from the names of the two holidays, which might be harder for some English speakers to say. Cinco de Mayo is much catchier than the day of Mexico's independence (Diez y seis de Septiembre), García said. Another issue is that not enough American schools teach the importance of Chicanx history and its peoples' contributions to the U.S. "When you study the history of Chicanos and Latinos, of course, they've been history makers," García said. "They've been involved in all aspects of American history, not to mention the wars ... In World War II alone, almost half a million Latinos – mostly Mexican Americans – fought in the war. And they won a disproportionate number of congressional Medals of Honor." The Battle at Puebla also occurred more than 50 years after the country broke free of Spanish rule. The reason the battle happened in the first place was because French Emperor Charles-Louis Napoléon Bonaparte wanted to claim Mexico for himself. The French sent troops to force President Benito Juárez and the government out of Veracruz, Mexico. An outnumbered band of Mexican soldiers faced 6,000 French troops at daybreak in Puebla, a city in east-central Mexico, on May 5, 1862. Mexico, miraculously, was able to claim victory by the evening, at which time Juárez declared May 5 a national holiday. The victory also helped prevent the French from settling in and helping the American Confederacy in the Civil War, according to Why is Cinco de Mayo more popular in the U.S. than in Mexico? Cinco de Mayo celebrations do occur in Mexico, most notably in the City of Puebla; those events don't compare to Día de la Independencia celebrations, García said. Meanwhile, in the U.S, it's become an annual celebration of Mexican American culture. It began as a form of resistance to the effects of the Mexican-American War in the late 19th century. The holiday gained popularity during the Chicano Movement of the 1960s and 1970s. "It becomes a Chicano holiday, in many ways, linked to the Chicano movement, because we discover Mexicans resisting a foreign invader," García said. "They link the struggle of the Chicano movement to Cinco de Mayo." Companies, especially beer companies and restaurants, began commercializing the holiday in the 1980s, offering customers "Cinco de Mayo" specials and cocktails. The holiday is now known to some as Cinco de Drinko, and to García as "Corona Day." This Cinco de Mayo, García hopes everyone enjoys their Coronas, but perhaps with a little history lesson to wash it down.
USA Today
04-05-2025
- General
- USA Today
What is Cinco de Mayo? What to know about Mexican holiday commemorating famous battle
What is Cinco de Mayo? What to know about Mexican holiday commemorating famous battle Show Caption Hide Caption Cinco de Mayo: How to make margarita mix Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with this delicious homemade margarita mix. Problem Solved Before Cinco de Mayo became associated with tacos and margaritas, the day served as a reminder of Mexico's triumph over the French. Celebrated annually, Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army's victory over the Second French Empire, led by Napoleon III, at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, hence the name. The holiday is celebrated across the U.S. and in parts of Mexico, particularly in the City of Puebla, where the epic battle took place. Americans, including people of Mexican American heritage, along with our neighbors in Mexico, celebrate with parades, festivals, music and food. This year, Cinco de Mayo falls on Monday, May 5. While Cinco de Mayo honors Mexico's resilience and bravery in the face of strife, the holiday has also become, for some, an excuse to party. "Everyone thinks that it's just party time, it's Corona time," Mario García, a Chicanx historian from the University of California at Santa Barbara, shared in a May 2023 interview with USA TODAY. "It's OK for people to go out and have a good time on a holiday like Cinco de Mayo -- at least they have some sense that it's some kind of a Mexican holiday," García said. "But we should go beyond that. We should have Cinco de Mayo events that go beyond partying and drinking, where we call attention to what the history is." Here's what to know about the origins of Cinco de Mayo, and how it's celebrated in the U.S. today. Why is Cinco de Mayo often confused with Mexico's Independence Day? Though many might know the lore behind Cinco de Mayo, it is often confused with Mexico's Independence Day, which falls on Sept. 16. It is known as the Día de la Independencia in Mexico. Part of the confusion about what Cinco de Mayo celebrates likely stems from the names of the two holidays, which might be harder for some English speakers to say. Cinco de Mayo is much catchier than the day of Mexico's independence (Diez y seis de Septiembre), García said. Another issue is that not enough American schools teach the importance of Chicanx history and its peoples' contributions to the U.S. "When you study the history of Chicanos and Latinos, of course, they've been history makers," García said. "They've been involved in all aspects of American history, not to mention the wars ... In World War II alone, almost half a million Latinos – mostly Mexican Americans – fought in the war. And they won a disproportionate number of congressional Medals of Honor." The Battle at Puebla also occurred more than 50 years after the country broke free of Spanish rule. The reason the battle happened in the first place was because French Emperor Charles-Louis Napoléon Bonaparte wanted to claim Mexico for himself. The French sent troops to force President Benito Juárez and the government out of Veracruz, Mexico. An outnumbered band of Mexican soldiers faced 6,000 French troops at daybreak in Puebla, a city in east-central Mexico, on May 5, 1862. Mexico, miraculously, was able to claim victory by the evening, at which time Juárez declared May 5 a national holiday. The victory also helped prevent the French from settling in and helping the American Confederacy in the Civil War, according to Why is Cinco de Mayo more popular in the U.S. than in Mexico? Cinco de Mayo celebrations do occur in Mexico, most notably in the City of Puebla; those events don't compare to Día de la Independencia celebrations, García said. Meanwhile, in the U.S, it's become an annual celebration of Mexican American culture. It began as a form of resistance to the effects of the Mexican-American War in the late 19th century. The holiday gained popularity during the Chicano Movement of the 1960s and 1970s. "It becomes a Chicano holiday, in many ways, linked to the Chicano movement, because we discover Mexicans resisting a foreign invader," García said. "They link the struggle of the Chicano movement to Cinco de Mayo." Companies, especially beer companies and restaurants, began commercializing the holiday in the 1980s, offering customers "Cinco de Mayo" specials and cocktails. The holiday is now known to some as Cinco de Drinko, and to García as "Corona Day." This Cinco de Mayo, García hopes everyone enjoys their Coronas, but perhaps with a little history lesson to wash it down. Cinco de Mayo celebrated around the U.S. San Diego: San Diego's Cinco de Mayo celebrations were held May 3 and 4 in Old Town San Diego. Activities included live music, folklorico, dining and drink specials. Denver: The Mile High City hosted several holiday-related activities over the weekend of May 3 for Cinco de Mayo Denver, from a community parade to chihuahua races. Events were held May 3-4 at Denver Civic Center Park from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. St. Paul, Minnesota: St. Paul's annual Cinco de Mayo celebration was in the city's West Side neighborhood and was one of Minnesota's largest Latino events. This year, festivities were held May 3 and included live performances, a car show and pro wrestling. San Antonio, Texas: Fiesta San Antonio is a 10-day celebration of state history and culture with parades, fairs, art shows, music and food. Festivities continued until Sunday, May 4. Los Angeles: Fiesta Broadway, one of the largest Latino and Cinco de Mayo festivals in the world, runs down four blocks in downtown Los Angeles. The annual festival happened this year on April 27, according to event organizers. Contributing: Emily DeLetter, Jordan Mendoza and Maria Jimenez Moya, USA TODAY
The Guardian
03-05-2025
- Science
- The Guardian
A grizzly bear comeback in California? An old dream gets new legs
On the eve of the gold rush, California was teeming with grizzly bears – as many as 10,000 of them. They were so popular that the Bear Flag Republic – a short-lived attempt by a group of US settlers to break away from Mexico in 1846 – used the animals as their mascot; an image that still adorns California's flag. But by the mid-1920s, the bears were all gone. The last documented sighting of a grizzly bear in California was in the spring of 1924 in Sequoia national park, a lonesome bear wandering among the trees. Since then, an inevitable question has hung in the air: could the majestic grizzly return to the Golden state? New research says they could. Peter Alagona, an environmental historian at the University of California at Santa Barbara who led the feasibility report, started researching grizzlies more than a decade ago. As he pored over historical maps and ecological data, he started to feel excited about the potential for the species to return. 'The extinction of grizzlies in California had not been inevitable by any means, and their recovery is probably not impossible either,' he says, 'even though that's the story people have been kind of telling for 100 years.' At 800lb (360kg) and standing 9ft (2.5 meters) tall, the bears served as a powerful symbol for Indigenous groups and California settlers alike. They were probably among the world's biggest and most carnivorous brown bears, a group that also lives in eastern Europe and Russia. Today, fewer than 2,000 grizzlies live in the contiguous US. California could host more than 1,000 more, the study authors say. Returning them to the state could offer numerous benefits, proponents say, including keeping herbivore populations in check, dispersing seeds, aerating the soil with their digging and cycling nutrients, which contributes to ecological diversity and health. There are still many parts of the state that could support a robust grizzly population, the study authors say. They pinpoint three regions: the north-west forest near the Oregon border, the southern Sierra Nevada and the south-western region that includes the mountains near Santa Barbara. Even after the animals disappeared due to conflicts with humans, large areas of their former habitat remained. And half the state is public land, making it easier to reintroduce species. For Alagona, the prospect is an exciting change to the narrative he has grown up with. 'For a hundred years, people have been saying, ah, it's over,' he says. 'But science actually shows that's not the case. 'We've got the largest acreage of protected areas of any state. California still has plenty of space for one or more populations of grizzlies. I think that the question is really whether people are interested, engaged, excited, enthusiastic and willing to support this.' The question of public support, however, could be thorny. While many residents are intrigued by the idea – a poll as part of the study showed two-thirds of Californians across both urban and rural areas supported a recovery effort – many others will undoubtedly bristle at the idea of a formidable predator living alongside their communities. Last June, the state had its first fatal bear attack, when a 71-year-old woman was killed in her home in the Sierra Nevada by a black bear. California is home to a significant black bear population – comprising about 60,000 animals – that has thrived in the grizzly's absence. But black bears are much more habituated to humans, and more likely to venture into towns looking for food or a backyard swimming pool to cool off in. While some towns have faced issues with bear encounters, Alagona says it's not the fault of the bears. 'Black bears are not a problem,' he says. 'The way we handle them and the way we live with them is the problem.' Grizzlies, on the other hand, try to stay away from people as much as possible. During the last 15 years, there have been only about 40 cases of human confrontations with all types of brown bears, including the grizzly, each year around the globe. There are some areas where humans and grizzlies live together, including in Alaska and Yellowstone. And any reintroduction effort would happen slowly, over several decades, Alagona says. Officials would start reintroducing a very small number of wild-born female bears from Montana, Idaho or Wyoming into the most remote areas of habitat – probably in the southern Sierra. So it's unlikely that Californians – even in the future – would catch a glimpse of them, unless they were in the most remote areas. 'And then you'd learn and monitor and watch and let people know how it's going, and work with local people in the communities, to get something like this started. It would be a slow, deliberate and careful process,' Alagona says. Melissa Wilder, wildlife program coordinator with the Los Padres ForestWatch, an organization focused on protecting public lands, says she finds the report very exciting. Bringing back top-tier predators has a positive impact on the whole ecosystem, in places from Yellowstone to South America, she says. Beyond the environmental upshots, there would be a symbolic impact, too. Not only were the animals a keystone species in ecology, they were also essential parts of cultural practices for Indigenous groups, appearing in artwork, rituals and performances. Some chiefs even kept grizzlies as pets and gifted them to other leaders. 'Native people and grizzlies had been forced to walk parallel paths,' writes Octavio Escobedo III, chairman of the Tejon Indian Tribe, in the study's foreword. 'Although California has changed dramatically over the last century, our Native cultures, stories and history remain interwoven with the grizzly, allowing us to remember and imagine what once was.' Ultimately, it will be up to the people of California to make this feasibility plan a reality. Wilder, who was not involved in the study, remembers seeing the state flag since the time she was in kindergarten, and thinking the bear was a symbol of what was lost – a ghost relic of times gone, and a reminder of human destruction. 'Instead, if we bring it back, it reminds us of a new future,' she says. 'And I think we need hope right now.'
