احتفال الجالية المكسيكيكية بموكب سينكو دي مايو
"مهرجان انتصار الشرف في معركة بويبلا في عام 1862"
Mexican community celebrates Cinco de Mayo
Parade, festival honor victory at Battle of Puebla in 1862
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One of the horse riders waits for the start of the parade. Perfect weather welcomed the annual Cinco De Mayo parade watchers as the floats, dancers, bands, royal courts and horses marched along 22nd Street in Chicago. The day is celebrated for Mexico's defeat of the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Chuck Berman, Chicago Tribune /May 5, 2013
To celebrate Cinco de Mayo, 4-year-old Andrea Urquizo donned a traditional Mexican dress
and waved a large American flag from the back of a truck during a parade on Chicago's West Side
Andrea's father urged his daughter to join the festivities so she could gain a better understanding of the historical day. He also wanted the girl — who was born in the U.S. — to learn more about her family's Mexican heritage.
"She knows who her president is, she knows a lot of things about the U.S. already," said Jose Adrian Urquizo, president of the Federacion Unidos Por Zacatecas. "But I want her to know both cultures. … I want her to respect both cultures
On a pictures que Sunday, hundreds of people lined Cermak Road as they watched the Cinco de Mayo parade — a procession of men on horses, tumblers, large bands and women wearing colorful, skirts dancing to Mexican music. Shouts of "Viva Mexico" filled the air. To get a good look, children sat on their parents' shoulders as they clutched miniature American and Mexican flags. Women shaded themselves from the sun with umbrellas, and toddlers wore tiny sombreros.
Meanwhile, less than 2 miles away, crowds flocked to a Cinco de Mayo festival in Douglas Park, where people rode carnival rides and weaved in and out of small white tents where vendors sold soccer jerseys and purses that read "I (heart) Mexico."
Cinco de Mayo honors the Mexican army's triumph over French forces at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, a fact many repeated proudly at the parade.
Before the festivities began, Eddie Zavala, 39, recalled that his family has celebrated Cinco de Mayo for as long as he can remember. His 2-year-old son, Devin, sat on his shoulders and wore a red, white and green bandanna that resembled the Mexican flag.
While the day is commonly celebrated in the U.S., many people here don't realize the significance the day holds, said Zavala's uncle, Gustavo Portillo, 45, who stood nearby wearing a sombrero.
"There's people who don't know what Cinco de Mayo really is. They just think it's another party day," Portillo said. "For us, it's a celebration. We're remembering the battle
