Technically speaking, Cinco de Mayo marks an obscure victory by the Mexican army over France. It is not Mexico’s Independence Day, as is commonly held.
In fact, south of the border, Cinco de Mayo is a relatively subdued holiday, celebrated mostly in schools and largely limited to the Puebla state. That’s where outmanned Mexican forces held back a French attack on May 5, 1862.
But none of that will stop thousands of Washington residents from hitting the Mall on Sunday for the Maru Montero Dance Company’s 17th National Cinco de Mayo Festival.
The celebration, which drew almost 20,000 people last year, features a day’s worth of Latin music, dance performances and a wide variety of Latin American cuisine. Floppy sombreros, flowing dresses and bright pinatas will abound.
The event also has a strong educational component, Maru Montero said. Festivalgoers will find bilingual books, pre-Columbian artifacts from Smithsonian museums and exhibits from contemporary Latin American artists.
The goal, according to Montero, who immigrated here from Mexico 20 years ago, is to portray as much as possible of Latin culture while also having a lot of fun.
“We want Cinco de Mayo to be more than margaritas and happy hours,” she said. “It’s educational, but we’re still trying to make it as cool as possible.”
The tradition began at a handful of elementary schools, where the dance company would come to perform on May 5. As interest grew, the group looked for a bigger venue, eventually settling on the National Mall.
“It’s a reunion for all Latinos, but also for Anglos” she said. “That’s why we have the slogan: ‘On Cinco de Mayo, everyone’s Latino.’ ”
