BY LESLIE RICHARDSON
Today may be a day of celebration for those of Mexican descent across the country, but in Schuylkill County, Cinco de Mayo is largely just another day.
The fith of May celebrates the victory of the Mexican militia over the French army at the Battle Of Puebla in 1862.
It is a festive celebration in many cities in Mexico and the United States and is sometimes falsely called Mexican Independence Day, which is actually Sept. 16.
The holiday is a celebration of Mexican culture, food, music, and customs unique to Mexico. You don’t have to be of Mexican heritage to enjoy the celebration.
“The people that I know from Mexico and Texas say that Cinco de Mayo is bigger in the U.S. than it is in Mexico,” said Leon Mazzotta, general manager at Amigo’s Mexican Grille, Minersville.
Some U.S. cities celebrate with parades and festivals, but in Schuylkill County, the celebrations will be more low-key and usually centered around a restaurant or bar.
Flor Gomez, owner of La Casita De Familia Mexican restaurant, East Centre Street, Shenandoah, said her family hasn’t had a big celebration since coming to Shenandoah.
“Our family is very busy working at the restaurant so we haven’t really gotten to do anything big, but it would be nice to get together for a big celebration,” Gomez said. “In Texas where I used to live we had a big celebration where the kids and teenagers would dance to special music.
“Something like Heritage Day would be really nice to do some day,” she continued. “Maybe some day when my kids are a little older and we aren’t as busy.”
Also, because Cinco de Mayo fell on a Monday many businesses celebrated during the weekend.
Amigos hosted a Cinco de Mayo Party Saturday with live music.
“The Cabana was open and it was a great party,” Mazzota said. “Monday is also shaping up to be a good day.”
Gomez said La Casita De Familia offered food specials and giveaways on Saturday and Sunday, since the business is closed today.
At least one local business will celebrate today.
Sisters Cantina, Tamaqua, will have drink specials all day today and a live radio broadcast from 2 to 4 p.m. to celebrate the day.
“Because we are a Mexican restaurant, we want to show our spirit and celebrate Cinco de Mayo,” server Tracy Skripnek said.
Even St. Nicholas School in Minersville got in the act by incorporating the ethnic holiday into its open house celebration.
On Sunday, the school offered a Cinco de Mayo Fiesta and had snacks and crafts geared to the holiday traditions for students while parents learned about the school.
Typically, the bigger the concentration of Mexican-Americans, the bigger the celebration.
In Denver, the Cinco de Mayo Cultural Festival, a two-day celebration, attracts more than 400,000 people each year. More than 200,000 people flock to
Chicago’s Douglas Park and in Arizona, the holiday is celebrated at multiple locations.
Some of the biggest celebrations take place in Texas.
Music, food and other commemorations are held at historic Market Square in San Antonio. In San Marco, the celebration of culture includes Miss Cinco de Mayo and Little Miss Cinco pageants, a parade and salsa/hot sauce contest.
