Cinco de Mayo

"5th of May" in English is not a federal holiday in Mexico. The date is observed in the US and other locations around the world as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride. A common misconception is that it is Mexico's Independence Day. This is actually September 16 (dieciséis de septiembre in Spanish), which is the most important national patriotic celebration in this country. Cinco de Mayo actually commemorates an initial victory of the Mexican army over French occupation forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. This holiday, which has been celebrated in California continuously for many many years, is virtually ignored in Mexico. Commercial interests in the US have capitalized on the celebration, advertising products and services to the growing Hispanic population.

The Maximilian Affair

The French intervention in Mexico, also known as the "Maximilian Affair", was an invasion by the army of the Second French Empire, supported in the beginning by the British and Spanish. It followed President Benito Juárez's suspension of interest payments to foreign countries on 1861, which angered these European countries. Napoleon III of France was the leader of this operation.

Although the French army, then considered the most efficient in the world, suffered an initial defeat in the Battle of Puebla on 5 May 1862 (now the Cinco de Mayo commemoration day) they defeated the republican forces at the end.

President Lincoln supported the republicans under Juárez, but was unable to intervene due to the American Civil War. The US Congress unanimously passed a resolution which opposed the establishment of the Mexican monarchy on 1864, and on 1866 demanded the French withdraw their forces, moved soldiers to positions along the Rio Grande, and set up a naval blockade to prevent French reinforcements from landing. The occupying forces eventually placed Maximilian I on the throne of Mexico.

Maximillian of Habsburg was a member of Austria's Imperial family. With the backing of Napoleon III and a group of local monarchists, he was proclaimed Emperor of Mexico on 1864. Many foreign governments refused to recognize his government, especially the United States, ensuring the success of nationalist forces led by Juárez, and Maximilian was executed in 1867.

The republic was restored, President Juárez returned to power and among other things, confiscated the vast landholdings of the Catholic church (which had been acting as landlord over half the country), established civil marriages, and forbade the participation of priests in politics (the separation of Church and State). As an interesting side note, Italian fascist Benito Mussolini was named after president Juárez.

Mariachis

Which take us to Mariachis, the only thing considered more Mexican than tequila. The word refers to the musicians now commonly seen in restaurants or strolling the streets, dressed in silver studded charro outfits with wide brimmed hats playing a variety of instruments which include violins, guitars, basses and trumpets.

No one is sure where the name comes from although a variety of theories have been postulated. Musicologists and folklorists have argued for years over the origin of this term. The explanation appearing most frequently is that it is a variation of the French word "mariage", meaning wedding or marriage, and comes from the time when Maximillian was Emperor. According to this version, the Mariachi was named by the French after the celebration with which it was most commonly associated.

The truth is that no one knows where the name originated, but it is one which is associated with a great deal of prestige not only in Mexico, but around the world. With the advent of radio and television their reputation continued to grow. Recording contracts were signed and they were paired with famous singers. Due to the popularity of jazz and Cuban music the trumpet was adopted, pushing the violins into second place and, in some cases, replacing the harp.