Talk:Cinco de Mayo/Archive 3

US Centric celebration?
Is it just me, or should this article not be 100% about US interpretation of the party?


 * If you center it on the Mexican side, then there would really be no Cinco de Mayo as a holiday. Lord Hawk 20:29, 5 May 2007 (UTC)

Why Cinco de Mayo
Out of all the holidays Mexico celebrates, why did Americans choose Cinco de Mayo to be their holiday in the US? There are many holidays Mexicans from Mexico regard more important. 205.174.22.28 01:20, 5 May 2006 (UTC)


 * Becaue it easier to say "Cinco de Mayo Sale" than "Dieciseis de Septiembre Sale" or "Veinticuatro de Febrero Sale" 189.157.152.137 17:10, 5 May 2007 (UTC)


 * Just for the record, it is really the Americans that celebrate Cinco de Mayo. Lord Hawk 20:26, 5 May 2006 (UTC)'''

Probably one of the main reasons why May 5th is preferred to Sep 16th in the U.S. is that schools have had a big influence, and September 16th and is nick jonas's bday! is too early in the U.S. school calendar... AnonMoos (talk) 21:33, 24 June 2008 (UTC)


 * Mexican Americans began celebrating it in honor Ignacio Zaragoza, who was born a tejano. The article brushes over the significance of this as Tejanos began celebrating it as a way of celebrating their Mexican American heritage, rather than their Mexican heritage; and a way of not celebrating Mexican Independence Day, as they were not really Mexican.  After the 1960s student movement and the movement for a unified "La Raza", this rift that has always existed between Mexican Americans and Mexico since the days of the Texas Revolution has been brushed aside and not acknowledged.  It's intellectually dishonest.  Anyway, I tried finding sources and gave up after about 5 minutes, if anyone wishes to research this further.  I figured I should give mention here now that it is Cinco De Mayo.  Chudogg (talk) 17:10, 5 May 2009 (UTC)

Not so much a Mexican celebration
Just to clarify some ideas that people might have about this date, in Mexico this celebration is not as important as they make it seem in the United States. It is of more importance to people of Mexican heritage living in the United States than to Mexicans living in Mexico.

The most important date to a Mexican in the patriotic sense is the 16th of September. Few occasions make a Mexican feel more patriotic than this, others being when the Mexican Soccer Team wins a game in a World Cup :D.
 * This is a very good point and should probably be in the article itself. You'll find parties on cinco de mayo are more concentrated in tourist towns than any other in Mexico. - 67.172.124.99 14:21, 16 September 2005 (UTC)


 * Indeed, the Spanish page suggests that it's barely celebrated at all except in Puebla itself. seglea 20:35, 3 May 2006 (UTC)

If you study the real accounts of this day, you'll find that the French were actually leaving the city when the Mexicans returned. To think that a group of unorganized farmers pitch-forks and sticks could actually fight off French soldiers armed with firearms and cannons is purely a fictionary tale for listening to around a campfire. Mexicans living in that area now do not celebrate it because they know the actual facts, not the rewritten history of the actual events whcich are portraid in the U.S. There was never a battle, just a repopulation of the city when the French came to the realization that there were not enough riches to occupy the area, and the cost to the French government would not allow it. Remember, never believe just one side of a story...check the historical facts for yourself...always. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.150.247.195 (talk) 03:11, 6 May 2009 (UTC)

May 5th Impact at Mexico
Actually I disagree, it is of great relevance to me as a Mexican and my family and friends do celebrate it. At any rate both your point of view and mine are more personal level comments so I feel there's no need to include any such "importance in Mexico" in the article. After all, not only Americans and Mexicans cherish it, but also people from Guatemala, Peru etc. Oleksandr 05:48, 13 April 2007 (UTC)


 * I sure as hell wish I knew who I was talking to! But to respond to the above, I have asked Mexican friends of mine at church about 16 of September, and all they could do was shrug. Not every Mexican national is up to speed on their historical events and find some other things more important to celebrate. The last sentence in this article that was added is relatively bogus and unnecessary. Some Mexicans just aren't up to these historical celebrations. They celebrate family stuff. Baptisms, communions, quinceañeras, etc. Those are the biggees! But my mom's Uncle Ramon, from Guaymas, used to celebrate Cinco de Mayo every year here in Los Angeles during the 20's. Magi Media 02:51, 11 June 2006 (UTC)Magi Media.


 * Oops, I forgot to put my signature there before (now I have). "Any Mexican people I..." is ="autosigned">—Preceding ::Oops, I forgot to put my signature there before (now I have). "Any Mexican people I..." is not mine. I agree that not every Mexican national is up to speed on their historical events, just like many americans do about theirs, and arguing that "Quince años" are a "biggie" in comparison to 5 de Mayo... speaks for itself, I won't even go into that. Fact is, we're arguing the spectrum and depth of its celebration in Mexico, a very opinionated subject by itself, I only want it to be known that it is celebrated. I'll try to take some pictures of the fireworks and fairgrounds next May 5th. Oleksandr 05:48, 13 April 2007 (UTC)

As a second generation Mexican American, I do not celebrate Cinco de Mayo because it is really just an American holiday. Lord Hawk 20:35, 5 May 2007 (UTC)


 * The true story is confusing. I see some sites saying it's celebrated in the U.S., not in Mexico, while others say it's widely celebrated in Puebla and Mexico City.  One says it was first observed in 1967, by students trying to establish a Chicano Studies program within the CSU system, choosing La Batalla de Puebla as a symbolic event.  Another suggests the Mexican defeat of the French forces kept Napolean from supplying the Confederate army, thus allowing the north to prevail the following year.  A radio reporter in San Francisco said that indeed Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican-American holiday, widely celebrated in the U.S. but not in Mexico (and further suggested it should become a federally recognized holiday).  --FeralDruid 07:59, 30 May 2007 (UTC)

Cinco de Mayo is really supposed to be on September 16th, 18

Disagreed- all of the people of Latin descent I know do not consider Cinco de Mayo a large holidayAYoungMan68 (talk) 17:03, 5 May 2009 (UTC)

I could be wrong but...
Aren't Spanish months lower cased? It should be Cinco de mayo.  Blind man   shady  07:00, 6 May 2007 (UTC)

I believe you are correct, but this holiday is really celebrated to its extent in the United States and the Americans choose to do things their way. Lord Hawk 13:21, 6 May 2007 (UTC)


 * As a holiday title Cinco de Mayo is best capitalized--Magi Media 04:29, 17 May 2007 (UTC)


 * Well, in Spanish you generally say the date in the cardinal "cinco de mayo," while the standard translation would be to the equivalent English phrase "fifth of may" (the date in English could).

- signed by anon IP

Removing citations
To whoever just removed a number of citations - please follow standard Wikipedia practice: Espana Viva  00:51, 30 October 2007 (UTC)
 * (1) if you're going to suggest an important substative change, bring that change to the Talk page first
 * (2) if you're going to suggest an important substantive change, make sure you have reliable citations for the change you are proposing (your own opinion is not sufficient)
 * (3) Don't just remove citations because you don't understand the facts or agree with the facts supported by the citation.

Here are some additional citations for the proposition that Cinco de Mayo is a regional and not a federal holiday in Mexico:
 * “Because it is not a federal holiday, Cinco de Mayo is not widely celebrated in Mexico, except in Puebla”
 * “Mexican President Benito Juarez wanted the day to be a federal holiday. However … it … was never a truly big thing”
 * It has become more of a North-of-the-border fiesta with not as much attention paid to it in its native land. ... It’s not even a federal holiday there. My friends in Mexico City shrug at the mention of it; it’s just no big deal”
 * "Why do Americans celebrate a holiday that isn’t even a federal holiday in Mexico?"
 * "Cinco de Mayo is ... usually only celebrated in the city of Puebla, Mexico"

Espana Viva  08:10, 30 October 2007 (UTC)

Fifth of May
Wouldn't "Cinco de Mayo" mean "May Five" instead of "Fifth of May"? The "Fifth of May" would be "Quinto de Mayo" (as an ordinal). "Cinco" is cardinal, so it would be "five" (literally Five of May, or May Five). THEemu (talk) 22:15, 6 May 2008 (UTC)


 * Well, in Spanish you generally say the date in the cardinal "cinco de mayo," while the standard translation would be to the equivalent English phrase "fifth of may" (the date in English could also be written as "May 5," but not "May Five"). Hence, the standard practice is not to translate to the literal English phrase ("May Five"), but to the equivalent phrase in English ("Fifth of May").  Espana  Viva  01:18, 7 May 2008 (UTC)


 * ¡Holy Guacamole! If you do not understand language or idiomatic translations, don't enter into a discussion. It's like arguing that Tecate is not beer, it's cerveza.--Magi Media (talk) 20:58, 9 August 2008 (UTC)

What a terrible article
I'm recalling that we had a pretty good article on the celebration of C de M. Now someone has gone in and written a god-awful historical account on the Battle of Puebla like it was really important to the modern day celebration. PLUS someone put a picture of the battle in the opening dialog box. There should be a good representation of the day as it is c elebrated in modern times, and leave the battle pictures to the battle article.--Magi Media (talk) 20:58, 9 August 2008 (UTC)

President Bush?
You've gotta be kidding me. Given his 28% approval rating and monumental incompetence, can we maybe find another picture to put up? He's a little bit of a distraction. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.178.132.146 (talk) 22:22, 8 May 2008 (UTC)


 * I feel it is fitting since, He has family Members that are Latino. Of course the media says nothing about that! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 173.58.207.54 (talk) 01:58, 8 May 2009 (UTC)

No Taco Bell?
I understand verifiability is paramount and truth optional on Wikipedia. Cinco de Mayo may have been celebrated in the US, but only obscurely until Taco Bell made it known to the general public. As soon some obscure online newspaper such as the UCLA News publishes the article by a even more obscure author we will have verifiability and will include this fact in the article.--AyeChihuahua (talk) 00:34, 26 August 2008 (UTC)

The French were "expelled" ?
The article claims that : "The French were eventually defeated and expelled in 1867". I'm not particularly familiar with the French venture in Mexico, however, the French intervention in Mexico article states that Napoleon III, under pressure of the US, announced withdrawal from Mexico in 1866, and according to the detailed timeline given as source, that was carried out starting mid 1866 through early 1867. No military action is mentioned. Anyone want to chime in before I make changes to what appears to be a wild claim ? 82.231.41.7 (talk) 03:51, 30 August 2008 (UTC)

Reverting rewrite of history section
User:198.173.15.250 recently replaced the small history background with a more comprehensive text, however it appears his edits are a serie of copy/pastes from various websites. The first edit is a copy of http://library.thinkquest.org/trio/TTQ03062/background.html and subsequent edits contain whole paragraphs from other sites. Reverting to prior version. Equendil Talk 18:46, 10 September 2008 (UTC)

It also should be Listed that as for foreign power assistance. Spain and England assisted the French campaign then left.! After this The French Foreign Legion where handed 1 of 2 of there only Historical defeats.

2009 swine flu outbreak
Is this affected/cancelled by the 2009 swine flu outbreak? 76.66.202.139 (talk) 14:34, 29 April 2009 (UTC)

The second sentence
the sentence "The holiday commemorates the Mexican army's unlikely defeat of French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862" should be changed to sat "The holiday commemorates the Mexican army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862". —Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.218.246.210 (talk) 16:47, 5 May 2009 (UTC)
 * I agree wholeheartedly. I’ll change it for you, since the article is semi-protected today. -BRPXQZME (talk) 18:48, 5 May 2009 (UTC)

A Beer Promotion
The US celebration in popualr culture is due in large part to the a beer promotion created by Gambrius importers of Corona and Corona Light begun in 1988. Prior to that time the holiday was virtually unknown outside of any mexican community.

From a Beverage industry journal in 1993:

Beer consumers will be invited to "Grab a Corona" this spring to celebrate the Mexican holiday of Cinco de Mayo - the fifth of May.

The Gambrinus Co., importers of Corona and Corona Light in the eastern half of the United States, will spotlight the beer during this period by continuing its annual Cinco de Mayo promotion aimed at both consumers and retailers.

This year's promotion will mark the fifth year Gambrinus has promoted the Mexican independence day. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 216.64.82.122 (talk) 13:05, 6 May 2009 (UTC)

Mixed Independence Dates
At the beginning of the article on the second sentence, it says: "Not to be confused with Mexican Independence Day, which occurs on September 15." But then in the third paragraph below it says: "Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's Independence Day,[11] which actually is September 16". It's either the 15th or the 16th. Someone please fix ;) --Genosonic (talk) 06:47, 5 November 2009 (UTC)