by Eli Mejia
News Reporter
Today, many countries around the world will celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Mexico, a national holiday commemorating a battle which left its mark on history.
In 1862, French troops invaded Puebla, Mexico, hoping to establish an empire, said University of Houston history Professor John Hart.
Up to that time, no Latin American nation had been able to withstand a European power, Hart said. However, Mexico defeated the well-trained French army using citizens as soldiers.
"Citizen soldiers put down their tools and took up weapons to fight a European army," Hart said. The Mexicans never surrendered, and, after many battles, the French retreated. The most significant of those battles was the one which occurred May 5.
After the battle was won, Benito Juarez was named president of Mexico and was given the "Bienmerito de Las Americas," the highest award Mexico can bestow upon its leaders, Hart said.
The series of battles was an important one in Latin American history, Hart added. "It shows Latin Americans coming of age against European powers."
Today, Cinco de Mayo represents the coming of age of a strong Mexican patriotism, Hart said. Several countries unite with Mexico to celebrate the day, and some cities, like Buenos Aires, feature landmarks named after it.
"We embrace and hold dear our Mexican descents," said Lorenzo Cano, associate director of the Mexican-American Studies Program at UH. "(Cinco de Mayo) symbolizes our pride in being Mexicans and the tenacity the Mexicans had trying to impede the progress of the French troops."
For many, today will be a time to display the richness of the Mexican culture with music, typical dances and food, Cano said. It is a day for Hispanics to celebrate and show pride in their ancestry, he said.
Carlos Rodriguez, president of the UH Mexican-American Student Organization, said the United States is very diverse and each ethnicity should be celebrated. "By celebrating the Cinco de Mayo, we are letting people see the beauty of our culture," he said.
The celebration has been kept alive in schools through special lectures and classes, like those at UH dealing with Mexican-American history, Cano said.
"There is always someone who is celebrating," Rodriguez added.
"Celebrating the Cinco de Mayo brings the attention to others of how others worked hard for us to get a better life," Cano said.
On campus, a mariachi band will play today from noon to 1 p.m. at the Satellite. "Even though it's during finals, we still want to have something special," Rodriguez said.