Olivia Dellemonache

Mr. Flecker
Spanish
May 5, 2016

1. What is Cinco de mayo?

Cinco de mayo is a celebration held on May 5. The date is observed to commemorate the
Mexican armys unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5,
1862, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin.
2. What does it celebrate?
Mexican independence is celebrated September 16th. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the
Mexican armys unlikely victory over the French forces of Napoleon III on May 5, 1862,
at the Battle of Puebla.
3. Who celebrates Cinco de mayo?
Mexico celebrates Cinco de Mayo.
4. How is Cinco de mayo celebrated?
In Mexico, there are large parades that feature people dressed up as Mexican and French
soldiers.
5. List everything else you know about this holiday (prior to doing your research).
Cinco de Mayo is celebrated all around the world in different ways.

History Hunters
1. Who were the following people?
- Benito Juarez was a Mexican lawyer and politician.
- Porfirio Diaz was a Mexican soldier and politician, who served seven terms as President
of Mexico.

- Ignacio Zaragoza was a general in the Mexican army, best known for defeating invading
French forces at the Battle of Puebla.
- Napoleon III was emperor of the French Army and the nephew of Napoleon Bonaparte.
- Maximilian was the only monarch of the Second Mexican Empire.
2. What role did each of these people play?
Benito Juarez fought for three years against foreign occupation under the emperor
Maximilian who sought constitutional reforms.
Porfirio Diaz established a strong centralized state that he held under firm control for more
than three decades.
Ignacio Zaragoza took on the powerful French forces of Napoleon III during the Second
French Intervention.
Napoleon III was the only president of the Second French Empire and he was the first
president of France to be elected by a directed popular vote.
Maximilian was the successor of Napoleon and tried to keep the French army going.
3. What is the biggest misconception about Cinco de Mayo?
The biggest misconception about Cinco de Mayo is that people think Mexico celebrates its
independence but actually, Mexico celebrates its independence on September 16th.
4. What caused the conflict that led to the Battle of Puebla?
The conflict that led to the battle was that French came to collect their money but they did
not have the money.
6. Explain what happened at the Battle of Puebla.
The Battle of Puebla was between the army of the liberal government headed by Benito
Juarez and the French forces sent by Napoleon III to establish a French satellite state in
Mexico. The battle, which ended in a Mexican victory, is celebrated in the national
calendar of Mexican holidays as Cinco de Mayo.
7. How long did the conflict last and in what year did it end?
The conflict lasted for five years and it ended in 1867.

8. What was the end result of the conflict?

The end result of the conflict was the victory of the Mexican Republic.

Festive Foods
1. Explain what the following foods are:
- Mole is a sauce made with chocolate, chili, and other spices.
- Chipotle is a smoked jalapeno chili.
- Chilaquiles are tortillas stir fried with onions, spices and maybe chicken, topped with
cheese and served with a sort of gravy.
- Enchilada is a tortilla dipped in a chile sauce then filled with meat or cheese, and rolled
up.
2. Name and describe three typical foods served at Cinco de Mayo celebrations. (not
including the ones listed above)
Mexican Lasagna is with meat, cheese, and spaghetti. Mexican Rice Casserole is made with
chicken, cheese, and tomatoes. Mexican Pizza is made of cheese and bread. They are served at
Cinco de Mayo. These are a variety of different recipes.
3. Describe a traditional tortilla.
A traditional tortilla is unleavened flat bread made from finely ground maize.
4. What is recommended in terms of eating while traveling?
Mexicans also suffer when they travel abroad because they get upset stomachs associated with
unpurified water used in ice or used to wash salads and fruit. If you stay in Mexico for more than
a few weeks, you may even experience the same acclimatization disorders when you reach home.
5. What food item accompanies almost every meal?
Tortillas are served with almost every meal.
6. What is the typical Mexicans meal schedule like?
Mexicans have breakfast between 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM, lunch between 1:30 PM and 4:00
PM, and dinner between 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM.

7. What Mexican foods do we eat in the U.S. today?

Some Mexican foods that we eat are tacos, tortilla chips, queso, chili, and salsa.
Modern Music and Moves
1. What are some common topics in Mexican songs?
They talk about love, nature, patriotism, current events, and revolutionary heroes.
2. What is Mariachi music?
Mariachi music is wedding music often used at weddings.
3. What kind of instruments are used in Mariachi music?
Six violins, two trumpets, and a guitar are used in Mariachi music.
4. Identify at least two modern-day Mariachi groups and give a few details about each one.
Mariachi Varga de Tecalitlan, who appeared in over 200 movies and another group is
Mariachi las Altenas and they formed in San Antonio in 2002.
5. What is Tejano music and why is it so popular?
Tejano music is music that developed on the Mexico-Texas border and it was so popular
because it has such a modern sound.
Fascinating Facts
1. Other than the Battle of Puebla, what three things does Cinco de mayo celebrate?
Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexicos independence, their unique culture and heritage, and
it serves as a community gathering for Mexicans.
2. What was France's excuse for invading Mexico?
Cinco de Mayo is celebrated with Mexican music, food, and fireworks at the end of the
day.
3. Why doesnt the whole country celebrate the Cinco de mayo?
The whole country doesnt celebrate Cinco de Mayo because people have a different
way of celebrating important days of the year.
4. How many Mexican soldiers and French soldiers were involved in the Battle of Puebla?

There were hundreds of Mexican and French soldiers involved in the battle of Puebla.
5. Why was the initial victory at Puebla important in Mexican history?
The initial victory was important because this was the first victory for Mexico and they
needed to celebrate this special occasion.
Why could el Cinco de mayo be significant to all Americans?
It is significant to all Americans because Mexican immigrants immigrated to the US and brought
the celebration with them.
1. What can you expect to see in a Cinco de mayo parade?
There are many people in costumes, eating foods, and its a gathering for Mexicans.
2. Other than parades, what other activities are common for a Cinco de mayo celebration?
There are activities for kids, fireworks, and Mexicans eat food and listen to music.
3. Describe the typical costume for Cinco de mayo.
The costumes of Cinco de Mayo are usually bright and colorful. However, there is not one
specific costume for Cinco de Mayo.
4. Why is Cinco de mayo celebrated on a much larger scale in the U.S.?
This is because many Mexicans immigrants immigrated to the United States and brought
their celebrations. Also, Mexican-American celebrate the holiday.
5. Name and describe two popular decoration made for this holiday.
One decoration is a balloon and it is a rubber sack filled with air. Another decoration is
flowers which are plants that sprout from the ground.
Summary:
While I was reading The Hunter History, I learned various new things about Cinco de Mayo. I
found out the misconception about Cinco de Mayo, the foods people eat during it, why Mexicans
celebrate it, and about the Battle of Puebla. At that time, Mexico had owed debts to several large
countries. This angered the French who tried to invade Mexico, and this led to the Battle of
Puebla. The Battle of Puebla was a hard fight between the Mexicans and French that lasted for
about a few hours. However, the war only lasted for a few hours, the whole thing lasted for about
five years. The Mexican president was later thrown out of this presidency. This holiday has
various foods that people ate all over the world in celebration. Mexicans eat and celebrate in a
different way than Americans. They like very spicy foods that will upset your stomach and make

you sick. The water in Mexico is not clean and it is proven if you stay there more than three
weeks, then you will become sick. Mexicans and Americans both celebrate the day they got
independence in different ways.