- Valley View News
UCLA Cinco de Mayo Anniversary Celebration
By Bianca Sanchez
Los Angeles, CA – UCLA celebrates the 160th anniversary of Cinco de Mayo. They have performances from Grupo Folklorico and Mariachi de Uclatlan along with fundraisers to support the programs. Event organizer Crystal Santillan Olmos likes that they are able to educate others about her background through this event.
“We just want to carry on our traditions and just continue passing on our roots to our future generations, we are really happy to express our culture in every way possible” Olmos said.
This event is celebrated to show Mexican culture. Several communities come together to educate themselves on why Cinco de Mayo is celebrated. Dr. David Hayes-Bautista, who studies Latino Health and Culture at UCLA enjoys this event because of how it recaptures the history of this holiday.
“Latinos supported government of the people by the people and for the people, that is why we began celebrating Cinco de Mayo 100 years ago” Hayes- Bautista said.
Today, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated through many traditions. Many celebrate it through events such as parades, Mariachi music, Mexican folk dancing and traditional foods. Many people, like Marco Perez like to come to these events to celebrate and remember their history.
“I become more aware of my history, about what students are doing” said Perez, “it’s really great to see our future generation really embracing our roots, our history.”
Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico’s Independence Day. It is a celebration to honor the Mexican army’s victory over France at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.
This celebration brings people together to celebrate Mexican Culture.
Video Credit: Bianca Sanchez
By Bianca Sanchez
Contributions from UCLA
Photo Credit: Bianca Sanchez
Video Credit: Bianca Sanchez
EDUCATE YOURSELF