Our readers know that we like to look into commemorations. Looking at the month of May we see a commemoration we all like – Cinco de Mayo! What does Cinco de Mayo commemorate? We’ll look into that. Maybe we’ll see our AMS Activities Committee planning some fun on the 5th of May!! But before we go there, let’s take a look at the other May commemorations.
The month of May is Jewish Heritage Month, it is Asian American Pacific Isander (AAPI) Heritage Month, and May 1st is Buddha Day, also referred to as Vesak Day. And then… we have a super big deal on May 10th… it’s Mother’s Day. It’s the biggest day of the year for Mom, so be sure and give her some love.
May 21-23 is known as Shavuot, which is a Jewish holiday commemorating the giving of the Torah, and that’s a pretty big deal. The next holiday is the Hajj. It takes place from May 25 to 30, and it’s a major holiday in Islam.
The 5th of May
What happened on the 5th of May? The History website gives us some really interesting information. It has to do with war and debt and greed. We recommend that readers go to the History website for the full story [LINK]. We’ll give you a glimpse of the story:
“Late in 1861, a well-armed French fleet stormed Veracruz, landing a large force of troops and driving President Juárez and his government into retreat. Certain that success would come swiftly, 6,000 French troops under General Charles Latrille de Lorencez set out to attack Puebla de Los Angeles, a small town in east-central Mexico. From his new headquarters in the north, President Juárez rounded up a ragtag force of 2,000 loyal men—many of them either Indigenous Mexicans or of mixed ancestry—and sent them to Puebla.
“The vastly outnumbered and poorly supplied Mexicans, led by Texas-born General Ignacio Zaragoza, fortified the town and prepared for the French assault. On May 5, 1862, Lorencez gathered his army—supported by heavy artillery—before the city of Puebla and led an assault.
“The Battle of Puebla lasted from daybreak to early evening, and when the French finally retreated, they had lost nearly 500 soldiers. Fewer than 100 Mexicans had been killed in the clash.”
Cinco de Mayo celebrates a battle won, against the French – i.e. Napoleon. It wasn’t a small victory – it was a battle for freedom – a battle won!! Here’s a little more from the History information:
“Cinco de Mayo, meaning “the fifth of May,” is a holiday that celebrates the date of the Mexican army’s May 5, 1862, victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. The day—which falls on Tuesday, May 5 in 2026—is also known as Battle of Puebla Day. Although it is a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, in the United States, Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a commemoration of Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in areas with large Mexican American populations.”
Have a Happy Cinco de Mayo
On May 5th we’re going to have some fun here at AMS during the break. AMS is more than just a place to work… we’re a culture of fairness and integrity and respect, and we like to give meaning to our work lives. So… we definitely see Cinco de Mayo as a holiday deserving of recognition. That was a significant victory and we’re into celebrating freedom, so we’re happy to recognize the soldiers who fought and won!
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