Why do Americans celebrate Cinco de Mayo when it isn't even our holiday?
485217
It's an excuse to party, and we Americans love a good party.  But, really, it's not that big of a holiday here in the US.  Especially now after the protests.
659722
"Cinco de mayo commemorates General Ignacio Zaragoza's victory on May 5, 1862, over the French expeditionary forces in the Battle of Puebla."  \n\nIn California among the Mexican communities I hava heard It considered a Mexican Independence day. However I think there real Independence day is Sept. 16.\n\n " September 16, 1810, in the village of Dolores, near Guanajuato. Hidalgo called for the end of Spanish rule in Mexico. On September 16, 1825, the Republic of Mexico officially declared Diez y séis de septiembre its national Independence Day. "
417005
Actually, I have found that it is not.  I moved here from Ohio, and the friends that I have made, party for all holidays.  When I mentioned St. Patrick's day they were like "Why?"  lol they even joked they needed no reason to drink!!! cause they do that all the time.  There were hardly any decorations up ANYWHERE --
1055626
nope, its only an independence day for United States of America because on that day it got its independence. lolz. (thats obvious)\nHappy Early Independence Day to u. i cant wait until the fire works, man, it'll be so much fun.
675146
I don't care if they want to celebrate it. I just don't understand why public schools celebrate it. My children are Anglo Americans, and they get upset because they are being forced to celebrate something that means nothing to them, or their country. However keep in mind that my children are the 2% of Anglos at their school. 50% of the rest don not speak English...it's just like them flying the Mexican Flag over our City Hall.
261262
The 5th of May is not Mexican Independence Day, but it should be!  And Cinco de Mayo is not an American holiday, but it should be.  Mexico declared its independence from mother Spain on midnight, the 15th of September, 1810.  And it took 11 years before the first Spanish soldiers were told and forced to leave Mexico. \n\nSo, why Cinco de Mayo?  And why should Americans savor this day as well?  Because 4,000 Mexican soldiers smashed the French and traitor Mexican army of 8,000 at Puebla, Mexico, 100 miles east of Mexico City on the morning of May 5, 1862. \n\nThe French had landed in Mexico (along with Spanish and English troops) five months earlier on the pretext of collecting Mexican debts from the newly elected government of democratic President (and Indian) Benito Juarez.  The English and Spanish quickly made deals and left.  The French, however, had different ideas. \n\nUnder Emperor Napoleon III, who detested the United States, the French came to stay.  They brought a Hapsburg prince with them to rule the new Mexican empire.  His name was Maximilian; his wife, Carolota.  Napoleon's French Army had not been defeated in 50 years, and it invaded Mexico with the finest modern equipment and with a newly reconstituted Foreign Legion.  The French were not afraid of anyone, especially since the United States was embroiled in its own Civil War. \n\nThe French Army left the port of Vera Cruz to attack Mexico City to the west, as the French assumed that the Mexicans would give up should their capital fall to the enemy -- as European countries traditionally did. \n\nUnder the command of Texas-born General Zaragosa, (and the cavalry under the command of Colonel Porfirio Diaz, later to be Mexico's president and dictator), the Mexicans awaited.  Brightly dressed French Dragoons led the enemy columns.  The Mexican Army was less stylish. \n\nGeneral Zaragosa ordered Colonel Diaz to take his cavalry, the best in the world, out to the French flanks.  In response, the French did a most stupid thing; they sent their cavalry off to chase Diaz and his men, who proceeded to butcher them.  The remaining French infantrymen charged the Mexican defenders through sloppy mud from a thunderstorm and through hundreds of head of stampeding cattle stirred up by Indians armed only with machetes. \n\nWhen the battle was over, many French were killed or wounded and their cavalry was being chased by Diaz' superb horsemen miles away.  The Mexicans had won a great victory that kept Napoleon III from supplying the confederate rebels for another year, allowing the United States to build the greatest army the world had ever seen.  This grand army smashed the Confederates at Gettysburg just 14 months after the battle of Puebla, essentially ending the Civil War. \n\nUnion forces were then rushed to the Texas/Mexican border under General Phil Sheridan, who made sure that the Mexicans got all the weapons and ammunition they needed to expel the French.  American soldiers were discharged with their uniforms and rifles if they promised to join the Mexican Army to fight the French.  The American Legion of Honor marched in the Victory Parade in Mexico, City. \n\nIt might be a historical stretch to credit the survival of the United States to those brave 4,000 Mexicans who faced an army twice as large in 1862.  But who knows? \n\nIn gratitude, thousands of Mexicans crossed the border after Pearl Harbor to join the U.S. Armed Forces.  As recently as the Persian Gulf War, Mexicans flooded American consulates with phone calls, trying to join up and fight another war for America. \n\nMexicans, you see, never forget who their friends are, and neither do Americans.  That's why Cinco de Mayo is such a party -- A party that celebrates freedom and liberty.  There are two ideals which Mexicans and Americans have fought shoulder to shoulder to protect, ever since the 5th of May, 1862.  VIVA! el CINCO DE MAYO!!
416878
The celebration of Cinco de Mayo (meaning 5th of May in Spanish) should not be confused with Mexican Independence Day. Mexican Independence Day is celebrated on 15th September while Cinco de Mayo falls on 5th of May. Mexico declared its independence from Spain on 24th August, 1821. This modern holiday begain when a group of California State University students decided to hold the first Cinco de Mayo commemoration in the United States. This was around 1967. The students felt that there was no Chicano holidays and needed to do something about it. They wanted something to recapture their history and identity and decided that the Battle of Puebla was symbolic and they could connect it to their struggle for the formation of a Chicano Studies program at the university.\n\nCinco de Mayo is not an American Holiday but it is celebrated on a much larger scale by Chicanos in the U.S. than in Mexico. In Mexico, the celebration of Independence Day is considered more important. Cinco de Mayo is the celebration of the courage of the Mexican people during the battle (La Batalla de Puebla) on May 5th, 1862 where 4,500 Mexican soldiers defeated the Mexican traitors (exiled Mexican Convervatives) and French army of 6,500 at Puebla, Mexico . Puebla is 100 miles east of Mexico City. The Mexican forces were made up of untrained commoners. This victory did not win the war but it showed the courage and strength of the Mexican troops. The "Batalla de Puebla" became a symbol of Mexican unity and patriotism.\n\nAfter Mexico gained its independence from Spain in 1821, the country was faced with many problems. There were internal power struggles and during the dictatorship of Santa Anna, Mexico went to war with the United States in 1846. This war and the years of fighting put Mexico in a very bad financial position. It was bankrupt. Mexico had to give away a huge portion of its land to the United States. That land is now known as Texas.
1143972
Usually the question you ask implies you know the answer you want to hear. I can't give you the racist view.  We celebrate American history with every national holiday.  The purpose of ethnic history months is to introduce us to different cultures, it isn't meant to be devisive.    The United States of American is a amalgam of many cultures.
796324
Here in America Black Friday. We do not celebrate Boxing Day.▬
538758
ITs the celebration of the winning over France in the Battle at Puebla. Not the celebration of mexican independence as many think.
367147
Yes, I celebrate it. While it's not an officially recognized holiday in the US, it is celebrated by pagans here. We refer to it as Beltane more often than May Day.
760591
I dont celebrate mine.\nBut birthdays were supposed to just make the kids happy, and help them take count of how old they are. and remember their birthdays! for an adult, dont see the point really!
734660
Maybe because it's a Pagan holiday? Don't say it's stupid before asking him the details of why. I personally don't like how commercialized the holiday has become. It's not about spending money, it's about spending time with your loved ones. It's Jesus' birthday, not ours, so exchanging material is so very trife.
20624
There are two main reasons for this. I said MAIN reasons. There are, however, many others that we could address.\n\nThe first reason is that around eighty-five per cent of the citizens of the United States of America celebrate Christmas.\nIf forty-three per cent of the voters in this country could elect Bill Clinton president, then 85 per cent of the people should be able to have it their way, too.\n\nSecondly, the people who celebrate Christmas are, for the most part, kind and happy people. And when the birthday of Jesus rolls around they celebrate exuberantly. They want every one in the world to have a happy and merry time along with them.\nSaying Merry Christmas to you has nothing to do with what you personally believe in. It's what's on the greeting itself that you should concentrate. It's okay if you don't believe in it. Celebrate with the rest of us. Be happy along with us.\n\nI woudn't let anyone hug you though. Ya know?\n\nI don't even let anyone hug me at Mardi Gras.\n\nHey, now there's a celebration you oughta try if you want real happy folks around you.\n\nHave a Merry Christmas.
789530
Being as we live in a "white" dominant country (yeah right, especially in the Southwest) we celebrate great "White"  Americans every month.  I also don't think a Black History Month, or Hispanic Heritage Month is Politically correct either.  If this country is to be fair and equal, then put a stop to it.  Let's celebrate those specific days, like Cinco de Mayo, MLK Day, Chinese New Year, etc. equally!\n\nLove to you all!
889986
We aren't celebrating the killing of Native Americans!!  This is a day that we set aside to give "thanks" based loosely on what happened at the "first" Thanksgiving.  It is not actually about celebrating what happened 400 years ago, but its about remembering to give "thanks" for what you have now.  And as an American Indian, I think its just a tad bit racist to want to give to Native American charities just on Thanksgiving, which By the way, I never knew we had our own socio-economic problems, must be something knew...God, I love some of you white people with your guilt.  I'm just playing, you're hearts in the right place
518720
Even though not all Americans are Christians and Thanksgiving can be celebrated by any religion or non religion, Christmas is still wildly more popular than Thanksgiving in the US. Thanksgiving happens to be my favorite holiday because it is not as commercial as Christmas or the other holidays and it is all about family. I come from a large family and we have wonderful Thanksgivings. Also, I love turkey and pecan pie and broccoli casserole and spinach dip and stuffing and bread rolls with real butter and on and on and on. \n\nHave you ever celebrated Thanksgiving? I live abroad and I've missed many other holidays, but I've never let Thanksgiving go by without celebrating it with my friends. It is TOTALLY appropriate to the spirit of Thanksgiving to celebrate it with people who know nothing about the day. I love introducing my traditions to my new friends around the world.