The first observance of the Cinco de Mayo holiday, was in Columbia, CA. Cinco de Mayo is not a Mexican holiday, but rather an American holiday, created in California by Latinos during the United States’s Civil War to remind the public, Latino and non-Latino alike, of the importance of freedom and democracy.
California’ Gold Rush drew prospectors from Mexico, Central America & South American. Many towns in the gold country were founded by these Latinos - Sonora among them. After the gold rush many Latinos stayed in gold country.
Mexico had been one of the early countries to abolish slavery, in 1829. When the U.S. Civil War erupted over the issues of slavery and the maintenance of a democratic union, many Latinos spoke out in support of freedom and democracy, against slavery and secession. What made them even more upset was the fact the Napoleon used the fact that the US was preoccupied with its Civil War to send troups into Mexico in 1862 to overthrow Benito Juarez.
Then, unexpectedly, the Mexican army stopped the French imperial army dead in its tracks at the city of Puebla on May 5, 1862, and forced it to retreat. On May 27th San Francisco newspapers told the story of the Mexican victory at the Battle of Puebla. The headlines shouted in the largest possible typeface: “Long live Mexico!!! Long live independence!” To the town of Columbia in Tuolumne County goes the honor of having held the first celebration of the Battle of Puebla, which had occurred just three weeks earlier.
A correspondent in Columbia wrote a letter to the editors of La Voz de Méjico, speaking of the “incomparable joy with which the satisying news of our triumph against the frenhc were recieved. It was then reported on the spontaneous celebration that had erupted upon recipt of the news. “We have celebrated by firing salutes and with banquets at which we have drunk to Mexico and sung some patriotic songs” The correspondent originally had written at some length describing the festivities; but, unfortunately for us in the 21st century, the editors of the La Voz de Méjico, chose not to print the full description.
