Ballet Folklorico Sol Azteca of Allendale, Michigan
Ok, not the best videos, but they get the point across. Check out the list of posts below for more in-depth discussions on Cinco de Mayo.
How Gringos Celebrate Cinco de Mayo
Is this the Cinco de Mayo celebration that you’ve experienced? Unfortunately, it’s this commercialized version of the holiday that makes many cringe. Cinco de mayo has a bad reputation among many Latinos, and for good reason. For one, the misconceptions about the holiday are often offensive and show a lack of overall concern about Latinos and their holidays. They portray an “I don’t care about your history, just pass me a drink” kind of attitude. But, there’s more to the story.
Not sure what cinco de mayo is all about? Read more:
Daily Grito “The Power of Cinco de Mayo”
NewsTaco “The American Connection to Cinco de Mayo”
NewsTaco “Happy Cuatro de Mayo”
OneStopPoetry “Cinco de Mayo: The Miseducation”
SpanglishBaby “¡Viva Cinco de Mayo!”
What is Cinco de Mayo Really About?
Now, for me personally, I happen to love Cinco de Mayo and it’s not because of the tasty margaritas or delicious food. I love Cinco de Mayo because it brings people together and provides Mexican Americans with the opportunity to celebrate their heritage. For those in the Midwest and other outlying areas, it’s paramount. Los gringuitos and Latinos can use it as an opportunity to build a cultural bridge that encourages diverse discussions and lots of good learning.
On the part of gringos, it’s important to take an interest in the actual culture and not just it’s entertainment value. It also means being open to the Latino community and being gracious guests who celebrate their culture and language. This applies to any instance of celebrating cultural heritage. If we’re going to participate, we ought to do it with respect and consideration. On the part of Latinos, or more specifically in this instance, Mexican Americans, it’s an opportunity to share our heritage and teach through the beauty and excitement of music, dancing, food, traditions and more.
In truth, my perspective isn’t the most popular one and I can understand that. But, I think that my experience in our bicultural / bilingual church and hosting our fiesta has affected my outlook. Throughout the years, our two Masses, one English…one Spanish (i.e. Anglo and Hispanic) suffered through many incidents and submitted to some degree to stereotypical views that kept the people separated. We knew who the unwilling or bigoted Anglos were and which Latinos wouldn’t work with gueros. On both sides there was a lot of hesitation and even some mean spirited conversation, but although our fiesta only lasted one day, it was a day when we would all work together. And it was a day when we could all agree that Latino culture was indeed fabulous!
Gringos lined up one after another to get a taste of Sra. so and so’s amazing and authentic cooking, play games and make chit chat with individuals that they might normally find little in common with. It was a starting point, albeit an imperfect one, where gringos and Latinos could meet on middle ground. If you looked in any direction, you’d be sure to see a handful of sentimental viejitos and children frolicking happily around mariachi singers and folklórico dancers with elotes in hand.
Festivals like this occur on all kinds of holidays and Cinco de Mayo is no exception. It’s an opportunity that we can’t afford to miss out on. Perhaps some individuals won’t really grasp the social or cultural lessons involved, but I’m glad whenever I see people participating in anyone else’s cultural heritage and even more excited when true appreciation and learning is discovered.
© 2011 – 2013, Chantilly Patiño. All rights reserved.
it has always been my thought that the only culture most want to absorb in the USA is the part that you can eat and digest…
Hope I make sense with this statement.
Sadly, for the most part I think that is the way that it goes. But, in a way, I guess food is the gateway that helps people to get to know each other. The first video is right in a lot of ways, but I hope that we’ll become more and more aware of each other as this nation heads further towards multiculturalism.
Comment Test!
Chantilly, I saw the second video this a.m. and couldn’t believe all the references to alcohol. It had a decent history component too, bummer they had to muck it all up. I love food, especially food that brings back memories of my childhood — such a close connection to the mind. What bothers me is the imagery excessive drinking conjures up when tied to this (Americanized) holiday, you know the perpetual stereotype I’m talking about. How awesome if the true history of this holiday could become a part of it. Things could’ve turned out much differently had the French persisted. We could all be speaking Spançais. What would the linguists say? Imaginate!
I love aguas frescas, by the way! Tamarindo y jamaica! Thank you for writing this. : D
That’s the same thought I had. I didn’t notice the very ending until this morning…awful! I never would have expected that after they made it seem as though they were debunking the typical gringo traditions. Should have watched all the way up to the last second. I was not about to leave that thing up! I know what you mean with the stereotypes and was further upset when searching for videos to use in this post. There are really NO positive videos and very little authentic discussions on Cinco de Mayo out there! It makes the frustrations about the holiday all the more legitimized.
Thanks for the encouragement…I was really disappointed after waking up and realizing the end of that video. Upset that I published it on my blog. :( Once, I was watching a Christian music video and when it came to the end, there was a pornographic image! I absolutely hate that people do things like that…or those scary images at the end of many videos! UGH! I want to slap them silly! Anyway, I love aguas frescas too…my favs are jamaica and horchata! Thanks for the comment amiga! =)
Well you wanna know something? I thought you were being sarcastic and using it as an example of what Cinco de Mayo is NOT about. I wouldn’t feel awful. It actually drove your point home better than you think. I thought you intended it and was going to watch it again when I got home from work.
Yes, that was my intent, but at the same time I was just disgusted by the depictions at the end and it was a bit much for me….even to get my point across…because it could be really offensive to some. I’ll send you the link though. :) Thanks for the feedback.
Thanks for this post. I posted a similar topic on my blog but it was not as tasteful. I loathe Cinco de Mayo because of all the Mexican American Stereotypes. The whole sombrero wearing, tequila drinking, taco eating Mexican. I have never in my whole life seperated Cinco de Mayo. I live in South Texas, Sept. 16th sure. Your right though, it is about respect for culture. There was an instance when a fellow teacher who was anglo said they had a Mexican party. I sat there stone faced and asked her what she meant. She said “They wore sombreros and mexican dresses. Drank tequila and ate Mexican food and candy.” What do you say to that? Lucky we were in an inservice. Kudos, for being brave enough to hold a fiesta.
When you get a chance, please leave a link to your blog…I would love to come check it out! I hear what you’re saying and I realize that my opinion is not as common because of those stereotypes. I can totally understand why Latinos would be offended and repulsed at the idea of celebrating. There are a lot of idiotic things happening out there and people celebrating in a way that discredits the culture and people of Mexico. I’m sorry for all the ignorance you’ve had to deal with…like that woman. My husband’s had to take a lot of crap like that too and sometimes it takes everything in me not to just lash out at people…it’s so infuriating. We take it a lot from my family too…who loves Mexican food…but apparently, not Mexicans. *sigh* It’s stupid, but thankfully there a growing number of Anglos out there who get it and have a strong appreciation for Latino heritage. I’m one and if you’ve ever visited Tracy @ Latinaish.com …she’s another. There are a few more out there too…I’ll have to make up a list! Thank you so much for stopping by. I’m really glad to be able to express these types of feelings and have others understand where I’m coming from. ♥