Thousands of Mexicans celebrate Cinco de Mayo this Saturday by dancing through the streets of Mexico City and reenacting the historic Battle of Puebla.
Often mistaken for Mexican Independence Day, which is September 16, Cinco de Mayo commemorates the 1862 Battle of Puebla between the victorious ragtag army of largely Mexican Indian soldiers against the invading French forces of Napoleon III.
The day is observed in certain parts of Mexico, but grew in popularity during the Mexican-American 1960s Chicano movement in California, when Latinos and abolitionists linked the victory to the fight against slavery.
Thousands of people celebrated Cinco de Mayo on Saturday with tasty food, exciting parades and flamboyant costumes
Often mistaken for Mexican Independence Day, which is September 16, Cinco de Mayo commemorates the 1862 Battle of Puebla between the victorious ragtag army of largely Mexican Indian soldiers against the invading French forces of Napoleon III. A child dressed as a French soldier marches during a re-enactment of The Battle of Puebla
The day is observed in certain parts of Mexico, but grew in popularity during the Mexican-American 1960s Chicano movement in California, when Latinos and abolitionists linked the victory to the fight against slavery
A woman dressed as a Zacapoaztla soldier marches during the re-enactment of The Battle of Puebla between the Zacapoaztlas and French army as part of the Cinco de Mayo celebrations in Mexico City
In Mexico City, actors put on a reenactment of The Battle of Puebla. People dressed up in Zacapoaxtla indigenous regalia clashed with those playing the part of French soldiers
Mexicans wearing period costumes take part in a re-enactment of the battle of Puebla, along the streets in the Penon de los Banos neighborhood of Mexico City
Thousands paraded through the streets in Mexico City in celebration of Cinco de Mayo
Photos in Mexico City show people decked out in festive outfits participating in parades, playing music and dancing through the streets.
In Mexico City, actors put on a reenactment of The Battle of Puebla. People dressed up in Zacapoaxtla indigenous regalia clashed with those playing the part of French soldiers.
Additionally, people dressed in revolutionary indigenous outfits danced through the streets of the Penon de los Banos neighborhood of the Mexican capital city.
Cinco de Mayo is now commonly observed in the United States with mariachi music, margaritas and Mexican food.
But in 2017 after Donald Trump’s election as US President, those of Mexican heritage were fearful of marking the holiday because of the strengthened immigration enforcement.
He has vowed to build a wall along the US-Mexico border to deter illegal immigration and launched his presidential campaign by attacking the character of Mexican immigrants.
Mexicans wearing period costumes perform during a re-enactment of the battle of Puebla
Cinco de Mayo is now commonly observed in the United States with mariachi music, margaritas and Mexican food
But in 2017 after Donald Trump’s election as US President, those of Mexican heritage were fearful of marking the holiday because of the strengthened immigration enforcement
He has vowed to build a wall along the US-Mexico border to deter illegal immigration and launched his presidential campaign by attacking the character of Mexican immigrants. A man dressed as a French soldier marches during a reenactment on Saturday
Mexicans wearing period costumes perform during a re-enactment of the battle of Puebla
Trump marked Cinco de Mayo in 2016 by tweeting ‘I love Hispanics!’ with a photo of himself eating a taco bowl.
His son, Donald Trump Jr, actually retweeted that very tweet Saturday morning with the caption: ‘Perhaps the greatest tweet of all time. He’s right though, it’s really good.’
In 2017, Trump said that the US honored ‘the Mexican-Americans whose fighting spirit and patriotism have been influential in shaping the character of our great Nation’.
This year, the president said in a press release: ‘Today, we honor the heritage of our neighbors to the south, and we celebrate the significant contributions of Mexican Americans to the United States.’
‘Though they were outnumbered and facing one of the strongest militaries in the world, the determined Mexican soldiers overcame the French force and proved their place in history as valiant defenders of Mexico’s liberty and right to self-government,’ Trump said.
‘Melania joins me in sending our best wishes for an enjoyable day. Feliz Cinco de Mayo!’
An aerial photo shows people walking down a street in Mexico City on Saturday
Men dressed as Zacapoaxtla soldiers march during the re-enactment of The Battle of Puebla between the Zacapoaztlas and French army
A Mexican wearing a period costume fires a homemade shotgun during a re-enactment of The Battle of Puebla
A man dressed as a revolutionary Zacapoaztla indigenous soldier marches during the re-enactment of The Battle of Puebla as another man wears a period costume and holds a chicken’s foot in his mouth
Mexicans were seen marching through the parade in celebration of Cinco de Mayo on Saturday