Today is the 5th of May, or better known as Cinco de Mayo. The Angelo State University’s Multicultural Center put on a presentation and added a bit of variety to celebrate and honor this day.
There is some misconception sometimes when it comes to Cinco de Mayo. Many people confuse this day with Mexican Independence Day. Mexican Independence, however, is on September 16. Cinco de Mayo is the commemoration of the Battle of Puebla. ASU put the presentation on because they wanted to clear up some of the misconception and provide a fun cultural experience at the same time.
“It's been a few years since we have celebrated Cinco de Mayo on campus, and there are a few misconceptions about what Cinco de Mayo signifies,” said Erika Baeza, the Director of the ASU Multicultural Center on campus. “It’s all about bringing the educational component of culture in history so we’re aware about what it is that we are celebrating.”
Though Cinco de Mayo is a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, in the United States, it has evolved into more of a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in areas with large Mexican-American populations. So today was a day on the ASU campus where students and community members could come and get a taste of Mexican culture and some of the history behind Cinco de Mayo.
“It’s so fun to be able to see all the colors and eat all the delicious Mexican food for free,” said an ASU student who had popped in to get some of the tasty cuisine. “I have never had the chance to try street corn before and it was delicious.”
The festivities started around 11:30 a.m. and continued until 1:00 p.m. Students and community members filtered in and out, tasting and learning about Mexican culture and the Battle of Puebla.
According to history.com, the Battle of Puebla happened in 1861 when the liberal Mexican Benito Juárez became president of a country in financial ruin, and he was forced to default on his debts to European government. When France, Britain, and Spain sent naval forces to Veracruz for reimbursement, France decided to use the opportunity to carve a dependent empire out of the Mexican territory. Six thousand French troops set out to attack Puebla, and Juárez rounded up a force of 2,000 loyal men to fight. They were vastly outnumbered and poorly supplied, but the army did what many thought was impossible. The battle did not last long, but resulted in the deaths of 500 French troops who retreated. The success symbolized a great victory for the Mexican people and brought forth a resistance movement.
“Learning about the history of a different culture has opened my eyes and expanded my knowledge about the victory of a battle that seemed to be impossible to win,” said another ASU student who also dropped by to enjoy the activities. “This experience is fun and educational; this is such a rich culture.”
The Multicultural Center on campus provides fun and educational activities for the many different cultures in the U.S. and San Angelo. For more information on the Multicultural Center and its activities, visit www.angelo.edu.
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