by Paola Cisneros
On the day of Cinco de Mayo, the streets of Corona, Queens, continued on like any other Friday. Parents were walking to pick up their children from school, people were crowding around Corona Plaza, and locals seemed to be following their daily routines.
Corona holds a predominantly large Hispanic community, where it would be expected to see Cinco de Mayo being celebrated. However, there was little to no evidence of the holiday being celebrated during the afternoon. As the day continued and the evening approached, people made their way to local taco trucks, taco stands, and other Mexican restaurants. Many locals seemed to have been celebrating Cinco de Mayo in their own way.
Local Mexican restaurants were busy and several small neighborhood bars had posted announcements advertising deals on Mexican beers, drink bundles, and other special drinks such as Margaritas.
Corona Locals Speak Out on Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo’s history has become vaguely lost in translation in the United States. For many Americans Cinco de Mayo has become just another glorified drinking holiday and can arguably be considered to have become culturally appropriated. The holiday has become associated with tequila shots, margaritas, tacos, other Mexican food, mariachi music, and traditional Mexican attire.
There is a large Hispanic community in Corona and a majority of the Hispanic demographic is Mexican. According to the U.S Census data recorded by the NYC Planning Department, from 2010 to 2014, 59.6% of the neighborhood population identified as Hispanic and about 15.9% identified as Mexican, making them a majority of the Hispanic population in Corona.
Corona neighborhood demographics from 2010 to 2014 via the U.S Census data recorded by the NYC Planning Department.
Hispanic demographics in Corona from 2010 to 2014 via the U.S Census data recorded by the NYC Planning Department.
With a large part of the neighborhood demographic being Mexican, Cinco de Mayo can somehow be expected to be celebrated with enthusiasm. However, many have forgotten the true meaning of the holiday. The holiday only recently became popular in the United States when it was introduced by Mexican-American activists who raised awareness during the 1960s.
Cinco de Mayo has lost its context in history and along the way has lost its true meaning in the United States. Cinco de Mayo is a holiday celebrating the anniversary of the Mexican army’s 1862 victory against France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. Although in Mexico it is only recognized as a regional holiday in the state of Puebla, it has evolved into a commercialized commemoration of Mexican heritage and culture in the United States. According to National Geographic, during the 1980s “the meaning of the holiday changed from community self-determination to a drinking holiday for many people.”
There were many opinions made by local residents on whether or not Cinco de Mayo has become appropriated by other cultures in the United States and whether or not the holiday has lost its true meaning. Locals in Corona were asked if they knew what Cinco de Mayo represented, why it was an important date in Mexican history, and if they believed that Cinco de Mayo had become misrepresented in the United States.
Dulce Maria, 50, a hair stylist who has been living in the area for about ten years expressed how Cinco de Mayo has created a new meaning in the United States, “From the time I have been living here Cinco de Mayo has more of an impact on people then it does in Mexico. Some people may go out to celebrate but it is not a holiday that must be celebrated, it’s more of an anniversary than a holiday. It’s interesting to see how people have made it something to celebrate”.
The American celebration of Cinco de Mayo has led to a parade of stereotypes. Americans involved may have had a good intention to celebrate the holiday, however some have showed poor judgment in how they did it.
In recent years there have been several televised mishaps showcasing stereotypes and the lack of education on the history of Cinco de Mayo: an ABC News anchor apologized for wearing a sombrero and referring to Cinco de Mayo as “Cinco de Drinko”; an MSNBC morning show apologized for a segment featuring a producer doing a shot of tequila while shaking a maraca.
The service industry is no stranger to the excessive drinking stereotype. Many restaurants, bars, and clubs take advantage have taken advantage to use Cinco de Mayo as a promotion outlet to lure in consumers with specials on products and foods traditionally associated with Mexican culture. The focus and promotion being pushed upon consumers has lead to a misrepresentation of the holiday and has become a day focused on promotional deals rather than its history.
A poster outside a bar in Corona advertising food and drink specials.
Timothy Baerga, a 22-year-old student expressed his thoughts about the holiday, “I always thought Cinco de Mayo was the day Mexico gained its independence from Spain, but I recently learned it was the day in battle where Mexico was victorious.” A common misconception of Cinco de Mayo is confusing it for Mexico’s independence day which is September 16 and was declared 50 years before the historic battle at Puebla. Additionally, Cinco de Mayo has become an arguably culturally appropriated holiday according to Baerga, “I believe Cinco de Mayo is a misrepresented holiday in the United States, almost like everything else, Cinco de Mayo has been white washed and people have a misconception of what the day is and why it should be celebrated”.
However, there were locals who felt the holiday was a day for Mexican people to remember their roots and their culture. Herendira Guzman, 49, “We remember and celebrate so we don’t forget our roots and culture back home. It should be a day to share with your friends and family”.