Puebla and the US celebrate differently
One date, two traditions. In Puebla it is a civic anniversary. Across the United States it has become a festival of Mexican and Mexican-American culture.
Side by side
| In Puebla | In the United States | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | An anniversary of a military victory | A celebration of Mexican and Mexican-American culture |
| Typical events | Civic and military parade, wreath-laying, a re-enactment of the battle | Parades, street festivals, folkloric dance, mariachi, food stalls |
| Who is there | Local families, schoolchildren, soldiers and officials | Communities of every background, often raising money for local causes |
| Food | Regional Puebla dishes such as mole poblano and cemitas | Tacos, tamales, elote, and Mexican-American restaurant favourites |
| Public holiday? | A civic day in Puebla; not a national day off | Not a federal holiday; a cultural observance |
Sources: NPR; National Geographic History; HISTORY
In Puebla
The state of Puebla keeps the day as the anniversary of its defence. The centrepiece is a civic and military parade, and the battle is re-enacted near the forts on the ridge where it was fought. Schools hold ceremonies; flags and speeches mark a victory that is told as a story of ordinary people holding a hill.
The forts of Loreto and Guadalupe still stand above the city and are now part of a civic and museum zone where visitors can walk the ground. Elsewhere in Mexico the day passes quietly, with commemorations in schools and public ceremonies rather than a day off.
What Puebla eats
Puebla is one of Mexico’s great food cities: mole poblano, the chile-and-chocolate sauce; cemitas, sesame rolls piled with meat, avocado and chipotle; chalupas; and sweets made in the old convents. More on the food of Puebla.
Sources: National Geographic History; NPR; Government of Mexico
In the United States
Latino communities in California marked the victory in 1862, according to historian David Hayes-Bautista. Chicano activists revived the day in the 1960s, and its meaning has been argued over ever since: resistance to foreign domination, pride in heritage, and later a marketing opportunity.
Today the biggest celebrations are held in cities with large Mexican-American communities, among them Los Angeles, Chicago, Denver and Houston, but there are smaller ones in towns across the country. Many are run by community groups, parishes and non-profits, and many raise money for local causes.
Taking part respectfully
- Learn the history, and tell people it is not Independence Day.
- Eat at Mexican-owned restaurants and buy from Mexican and Mexican-American makers.
- Skip stereotyped costumes and fake accents; wear something you would wear anywhere, or the real folk dress if you are part of a dance group.
- Learn a few Spanish words and use them correctly.
- Drink responsibly, and keep the day about more than alcohol.
Sources: University of California Press; TIME; HISTORY
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