¡Viva Mexico! What is Cinco de Mayo?

Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's Independence Day! Cinco de Mayo officially commemorates the anniversary of an early victory by Mexican forces over French forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. This single military battle signified defeat of a European colonial power, and a victory for the Mexican people. It is a festival of Mexican pride and heritage in the United States.

Many people think it is Mexico's Independence Day, however Mexico’s independence from Spain is celebrated on September 16th. The Battle of Puebla was not even a turning point in the Mexican and French conflict, as the French invasion succeeded the following year. However, Mexico was the underdog in the Battle of Puebla against Napoleon’s forces, and resisted the attack (at least for a few days).

For the most part, the holiday of Cinco de Mayo is more of a regional holiday in Mexico, celebrated most vigorously in the state of Puebla. Cinco de Mayo has become increasingly popular along the U.S.-Mexico border and in parts of the U.S. that have a high population of people with a Mexican heritage.  The holiday is a celebration of Mexican culture, food, music, beverage and customs.

The country is said to have the largest Spanish-speaking population in the world with almost a third of all Spanish native speakers. Mexico also hosts a large number of indigenous languages, spoken by some 5.4% of the population. The National Institute of Indigenous Languages recognizes 68 linguistic groups and over 364 different specific varieties of indigenous languages.

Mexican Spanish is also spoken in various parts of the United States and Canada where there are large communities of Mexican origin.  Mexico City was also known as the capital of the Aztec Empire and other Nahuatl speaking cultures, hence many speakers of Nahuatl continued to live in this region. 

Mexican Spanish includes many Nahuati influences and words.  Furthermore, the Spanish spoken in the Yucatán Peninsula is distinct from all other forms incorporating many Mayan words. Mexicans living in Texas after its independence from Mexico tend to speak a Texas variant referred to as “Tex-Mex”.

Mexican Spanish vs. Castilian

In Mexico the language spoken is most likely to be referred to as Español; whereas in Spain, it is referred to as Castellano. The term Castellano is derived from the central region of Castile in Spain where Spanish is the predominant language (rather than the Basque and Catalan speaking regions). The main differences lie in vocabulary and pronunciation.

A few examples:

• Computer is referred to as una computadora, rather than its Castilian counterpart un ordenador
• Una Tortilla in Spain is an omelet, whereas in Mexico it is a corn based flat-bread typical in Mexico
• In Spain Tio or Tia mean both uncle and aunt, as well as slang words used among friends, for example “que pasa tia?”  In Mexico Tio or Tia simply means uncle and aunt.
• In Spain to order juice, you’d ask for Zumo (zumo de naranja = orange juice); in Mexico you’d say Jugo (jugo de naranja = orange juice).
• The ci’s are pronounced somewhat softer by Mexicans, than by Spaniards, for example “gracias” would sound like “gra-si-as”, compared to a Castilian’s “gra-thi-us”.
• The s’s and z’s tend to sound softer in Mexico, whereas in Spain they sound like “th”. For example, “corazón” sounds like “cora-s-on” from a Mexican, but sounds more like “cora-th-on” by their Spaniard counterparts.

But in the end, a Mexican traveling to Spain, would be well understood, likewise would a Spaniard in Mexico. Learn about what one should absolutely NOT do when visiting Mexico.

¡Viva Mexico!   Happy Cinco de Mayo!

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