Cinco de Mayo is a date that commemorates the Battle of Puebla, Mexico of 1862 in which the Mexican troops triumphed over the French army. 

To understand this date better it is necessary to understand a little of the history of Mexico.  In 1821 Mexico gained independence from Spain. However, the Mexican government had incurred large debts with France among other European countries during the wars of 1846-48 (with the United States) and 1860 (a civil war). Mexico could not pay its debts immediately and in response, the French government sent its troops to Mexico to establish its own monarchical government.  To reach the city of Mexico the troops had to pass through Puebla, a city two hours east of Mexico City. In Puebla, General Zaragoza and his Mexican troops managed to defeat the French army on May 5th giving rise to the name of this holiday. This was achieved even though the French were much more numerous.  Today Cinco de Mayo is celebrated with military parades called desfiles and a lot of food, songs and dancing. Many traditional Mexican dishes are also served such as tamales. People also wear traditional clothes and at night there are fireworks. In recent years, Cinco de Mayo has become very popular in the United States as a general celebration of democracy, patriotism and latin culture.

Pre-European Mexico

Mexico had a rich cultural history before the arrival of the Europeans. Notably they had many independent indigenous groups including the Aztec, Maya, Mixtec and Tolmec among others. These civilizations flourished at various times and in various regions of this large country over a period of 10,000 years.

Conquest

In 1519 Hernán Cortes of Spain led a group of 500 men and horses into the vast city of Tenochtitlan, now known as Mexico City. It was one of the largest cities of the time and the capital of the vast Aztec Empire led by its ruler Moctezuma. How Cortes and his men were able to capture such a huge empire with such a small number of people is due in large part to luck. The Aztecs believed the Spaniards to be Gods due to their appearance. They wore strange clothes, created fire with muskets and were presumed to be part animal part human. (The Aztecs had never seen horses before). Secondly, the conquerors brought with them a secret weapon: smallpox. Largely immune themselves, this disease ravaged the local population killing millions within the first years of contact. Many Aztecs believed they were being punished and turned to the Christian God as a savior. Although it took many more decades to completely conquer the vast territory of Mexico, the fall of the Aztec Empire in 1521 is seen as the official beginning of Spanish rule over Mexico. The Spanish spent another 130 years consolidating their empire. The colonial period lasted from around 1650 until Mexican independence in 1821.

Legacy

The majority of Mexicans today are considered mestizo,  a word which refers to the mixture of Spanish and indigenous blood. The Catholic faith continues to be the dominant faith within Mexico although it is different from Catholicism found in Europe. Mexicans have included numerous indigenous elements into their faith to reconcile the two. Nowadays, the term Montezuma’s revenge is used jokingly to refer to unpleasant symptoms of stomach discomfort or vomiting experienced by some tourists visiting Mexico!

After World War II, Germany’s capital of Berlin was divided up into four occupied zones, one for each of the major victors of the war: the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Russia then known as the Soviet Union. (See map below) By 1949, Germany itself had been carved up into two distinct countries, East Germany or the DDR (Deutsche Democratische Republik) under the control of Soviet Russia and West Germany or the BRD (Bundesrepublik Deutschland). By the 1950s, West Germany was experiencing an economic boom or Wirtschaftswunder and many East Germans were leaving for the West. In response, the East German government built the Berlin wall or Berliner Mauer. The government claimed it was erected to protect its citizens from the fascist influences of West Germany. In reality, its main aim was to prevent any further citizens from leaving.

The Berlin wall was erected under cover of darkness on August 13, 1961. Most were caught off guard by it the next day and many people were separated from their families and jobs overnight. At first the Berlin wall was just a short barbed wire fence, but as people continued to try to cross over, the government fortified the structure in three successive waves of construction. To improve its effectiveness the wall was reinforced by electric fencing, newer concrete walls, trenches on either side, guard dogs and a large sand area known as the Death Strip with over 100 watchtowers housing soldiers with orders to kill on sight. For a fascinating series of short videos detailing the construction and history of the Berlin wall click here.

Throughout the nearly 30 years the wall stood, there were nine checkpoints at which individuals could cross to the other side.  There were however numerous restrictions on movement, especially those attempting to enter into the West.  The most famous of these checkpoints was named Checkpoint Charlie. Today a museum stands on this spot highlighting the ingenious ways in which individuals attempted to cross over, under and through the border without being caught.

Roughly 150 people died attempting to go through the Berlin wall.  Many were shot,  but some also drowned as they attempted to enter through sewer systems and rivers. To get a feel for what life was like just after the Berlin wall was built I highly recommend the film Der Tunnel. Based on the true story of a tunnel built in the early years of the Berlin wall, it is a thriller that really brings to life this historic era. For a trailer click here. 

With other communist countries beginning to gain independence in 1989, East Germans took to the streets and churches to demonstrate their own desire for freedom. These peaceful protests came to be known as Montagsdemonstrationen as they took place on Mondays. Pressure on the East German government by its citizens built throughout that Fall, and on November 9 the official edict came down to open the border. That evening, thousands of East Germans or Ossis crossed over to West Germany. The atmosphere was jubilant with many West Germans or Wessis greeting them with champagne and embraces.  Within days people began to hack away at the wall with hammers and took away pieces as keepsakes or souvenirs. These people came to be known as Mauerspechte or wall woodpeckers. Today only a small length of wall remains where tourists can visit and locals can be reminded of what was once a strong symbol of a divided nation.