"Many don't seem to know, or care, what they're actually celebrating. For the record: Cinco de Mayo isn't Mexican Independence Day. It commemorates the Battle of Puebla, when we defeated a larger and better-equipped French force during the second French invasion. In Mexico it isn't a national holiday, and it's only celebrated in Puebla. Mexico's real celebration and day of independence is September 16."
"I was a kid navigating two languages and two worlds - one with my family, and one at school. My identity was rich at home, but I was often misunderstood (or, worse, mocked) once I stepped outside. My first year outside of the English as a Second Language (aka ESL) program was an immense culture shock - and as I transitioned into my teenage years and then college, this was still the case."
A first-generation Mexican American experienced cultural dissonance while navigating two languages and two worlds, facing misunderstanding and mockery outside the home. Cinco de Mayo has been commercialized in the United States into caricatures featuring sombreros and fake mustaches, diverging from its historical meaning. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Battle of Puebla, not Mexican independence, and is not a national holiday across Mexico. Mexico's actual Independence Day is September 16. A personal response emerged in the form of hosting a September dinner to honor Mexico's independence, transforming resistance into a joyful, meaningful tradition.
Read at Apartment Therapy
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