Cinco de Mayo festivites celebrate 1862 victory
By Tatiana Botton
Today marks the 133rd anniversary of Cinco de Mayo, the
victorious battle of Mexican soldiers against invading French
troops.
In commemoration, UCLA student groups will organize a concert
tonight in front of the Plaza Building featuring Azlan, an
underground political rap group and a band called Banda. In
addition, the Wadsworth Theater will host a performance of Mexican
women’s dances on Saturday.
"It’s not a day of celebration and fiesta but a day of
commemoration and acknowledgment of events that took place," said
Christina Misa, internal coordinator of MEChA. "(Azlan is) an
educating and cultural group with a good beat."
UCLA students will also be able to get a free margarita shaker
at Marix Tex Mex just by showing their student ID.
"I’m going to get together with friends," said Elva Cortez, a
senior political science and Chicano studies student. "I think this
day is much more important for Chicanos than it is for Mexicans.
For Chicanos it’s more an identity thing."
The holiday is in remembrance of the April 1862 battle where
8,000 French soldiers attempted to capture Mexico City and
subsequently the whole country. But French troops encountered an
obstacle in the village of Puebla, where Gen. Ignacio Zaragoza was
waiting for them and defeated Napoleon III’s troops.
"The victory at Puebla was a rallying point, one of the
highlights of the very costly resistance by the Mexican people
against foreign intervention," said Miguel Escobar, a spokesperson
for the Mexican consulate. "I would say that Cinco de Mayo is a
watershed in our history and should be seen as a decision by all
people to determine their own destiny."
France originally invaded Mexico because it was unable to repay
loans to several European countries.
Los Angeles continues celebrating the "Batalla de la Puebla,"
more popularly known as "Cinco de Mayo." Despite being a "very
solemn" holiday in Mexico, Escobar explained, Fiesta Broadway
 the largest party in the country  attracted about
300,000 people last Sunday.
"We need a balance between education and celebration. If
celebration is the only part, then you’re simplifying why that day
exists," Misa said.