The Significance of Cinco De Mayo and Spanish Translation

Cinco de Mayo translates to “the fifth of May“ in English and is often confused with Mexican Independence Day when it actually commemorates a significant battle that took place in Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. The holiday’s official name is “El Día de la Batalla de la Puebla“ and translates to “The Day of the Battle of Puebla“.  The day celebrates the Mexican Army’s victory over France at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Read on to learn more about the origin of Cinco de Mayo and how Spanish translation services can help us unlock the secrets of this important holiday:

The Battle of Puebla and Spanish Translation

In the 1860s, the Mexican government resisted French forces, who wanted to establish a French State in Mexico, blocking the advances in the city of Puebla. Despite being outnumbered and ill-equipped, Mexican troops were able to hold off French invaders in less than a day. As a result of the Mexican leader Benito Juárez’s order to suspend foreign debt payments, Spain, France, and England had sent forces to Mexico, although only France ended up taking military action.

Following Mexico’s victory, May 5^th was declared a national holiday and became an important symbol of Mexican resistance against foreign dominance. While Cinco de Mayo is mainly celebrated in the city of Puebla, in the U.S., it has become an annual celebration of Mexican-American culture, food, goods, music, and more, which often requires the help of Spanish interpreting services.

Cinco de Mayo Celebrations and Spanish Translation Services

Cinco de Mayo was celebrated in the U.S. only weeks after the battle. It was only thanks to President D. Roosevelt’s “Good Neighbor Policy“, which aimed to establish a positive relationship with Latin America, that the day gained traction in 1933.  While in the U.S. the day is celebrated with tons of food, drinks, and parties, in Mexico things look slightly different. In addition to foods and drinks, locals put on military parades with people dressed as French and Mexican soldiers and reenact the battle on the original site.

While in the U.S., tacos and avocados are popular dishes, in Mexico, mole poblano is the main dish. Mole poblano is a sauce made with chili peppers and chocolate and served over chicken. Every year, the town of Puebla hosts the International Mole Festival, a two-day event where celebrity chefs give tips on how to create the ultimate mole.

The Importance Of Translation And Interpreting Services

Cinco de Mayo has become a huge day of recognition for Hispanic culture, tradition, and history. As a business, it is important to translate and localize content into various languages to better connect with people from around the world and expand your business abroad. Skilled translation and localization services will ensure that all your documents are translated accurately and adjusted according to the preferences of your target audience. Fortunately, Language Connections has been working in the industry for over 30 years and has a vast network of skilled translators that can provide translation services in multiple dialects of the Spanish language.