Why USA celebrates 5 de Mayo, Mexico doesn't anymore?

Question

It is not considered a major Holiday because banks don't close anymore (at least in Northern Mexico).

Answer 1

Mexico still celebrates 5 de Mayo but not like the people of Mexican ancestry here in the USA - 5 de Mayo IS NOT a day like Independence day, 15 and 16 of September - Independence Days are more important than the day the French occupation ended in Mexico - 5 de Mayo festivities ARE celebrated all over Mexico - Here in the states, for the most part, people are confused and that's why 5 de Mayo , to them, is more important -

Answer 2

Who told you they don't celebrate it anymore?  I was in Mexico for 5 de Mayo and it looked like a celebration to me.

Answer 3

I am mexican, I just moved from mexico to the us, and let me tell you, we  DO NOT celebrate 5 de mayo. 5 de mayo is when the french attacked puebla but puebla won that battle, but it is not celebrated at all between mexicans. what I consider very sad is that mexicans who are born in the US and don´t really know much about this go on and showing off their " mexican pride" on 5 de mayo. thay even say that 5 de mayo is independence day, but it is not! independence day is on september 16, and we DO celebrate it, just like americans celebrate 4th of july.

to answer your question, I work at a mexican restaurant here on the US and on 5 de mayo, its so busy! so, american took 5 the mayo to sell more to get more profit, they sell more beer, mexican decorations, etc, so its all about the money.

Answer 4

The commeration of Cinco de Mayo was highly populrized maybe 30 years ago by Tequila distributors. It started with college newspapers, as I recall, and spread into the mainstream of advertising in bars, restaurants and grocery store point of sale. Tequila became a very important bar drink muscling out whiskey and rum. Not celebrated much in Mexico except in elementary schools, and of course in bars. Popular with American tourists who still think its Independence day

Answer 5

I live in California and don't celebrate it, but I guess it sells beer, chips and guacamole.  St. Patrick's Day is a bigger event in the U.S. than it is in Ireland.  Any excuse for a party.  I'll stick with Thanksgiving and the 4th of July.

Answer 6

because Mexico has moved into the USA

Answer 7

In the 1840s after a rather nasty sneak attack on Mexico, the United States seizes over one third of Mexican national territory. That left a huge population of Mexicans living in the conquered territories, now part of the US.

In the 1860s France invaded Mexico and a professional French army marched over the mountains from Vera Cruz towards Mexico City. They were met in the city of Puebla by a Mexican army mostly comprised of conscripts, volunteers and Indian militia, some armed only with machetes. Despite the French numerical superiority (almost 2 to 1) despite the fact that the French army was one of the best equipped and trained in Europe, despite the French superiority in artillery, rifles and horses, despite all of that, the Mexican army under General Zaragosa kicked the living c**p out of them (due in part to their really splendid cavalry) and sent them running back to Vera Cruz, where they came from.

It was a tremendous victory for Mexico and for the Mexicans living under the oppression of the victorious Americans in the stolen territories, it was a restoration of national and racial pride. It tended to wipe out all the humiliation of the American War and all the racism and second class citizenship that had followed that war. In their minds it was Mexico's vindication as a nation and as a race. They celebrated it wildly then and they still do to this very day almost a 150 years later.

In Mexico the reaction was very different. Yes, it was a great battle and they won, BUT, Mexico was in the middle of a war for her national sovereignty. The furious French sent more soldiers over and the won the next battle of Puebla with over whelming odds and firepower. The war was to go on and on for some years and many more battles before the French army was finally defeated, the French Emperor executed and Mexico was once again a republic under President Juarez.

So for Mexicans living in the US this battle tended to restore Mexico's national and racial pride and honor, but for Mexicans in Mexico it was just another battle in a long war.

We do celebrate it in Mexico, the kids get the day off school and there are some ceremonies. If you really want to see the Mexican celebration, they do it up right, over in Puebla and its a real treat to be there for it. But its nothing like Cinco de Mayo in the US!

For us here in Mexico, that would be the night of the15th and the 16th. of September! And THAT is one rocking fiesta, mis amigos!

Answer 8

It is on the 5th of May! Most of the USA is gorgeous at that time and it is the perfect time to have a party. That is why folks (read advertisers trying to capture hispanic dollars and bar owners looking for new promotions) in the USA have seized on Cinco de Mayo and Diez y Seis de Septiembre, they happen to be nice end caps to the summer season too.

Answer 9

No idea. It has never been something that important here in Mexico, I mean, we get the day off, but we don't celebrate it like we do with the independence day or the day of the dead for example. I guess it's the only celebration that somehow involved the USA, so it stayed as something important on the border cities from both countries.

Answer 10

Mexico does celebrate 5 de Mayo as always. Nothing is changed in Mexico.

The mexicans who live in the US are not much different than the americans. THEY DON'T KNOW THEIR HISTORY.

5 de Mayo its a sub-important holiday. Batalla de Puebla. (its just a won battle, not a war)

Independence day in Mexico its the 16th of September.

Answer 11

I think some people will take any excuse to party.

Answer 12

It's hyped up to sell a LOT of beer and munchies!.......

Answer 13

I don't celebrate it. I have no clue why America does. It is the same for St Patrics Day. You know what I think it's all for the beer and drinking....& The money that is made off of them.....

Answer 14

For the most part the U.S. does not celebrate the holiday.

As many Mexican have moved here to the United states and not all of them legally.. their community's celebrate the holiday. Many advertisers now try to cash in on the holiday with Cinco De Mayo days etc.