This Week In Vexillology #27

Being unable to find an appropriate banner from Star Wars to celebrate Star Wars Day (you know, because May the Fourth be with you and all that) I decided to grab some tequila and limes, break open the chips and salsa and have a special 'holiday that has absolutely nothing to do with Mexican Independence Day because that isn't until September 16th, you silly gringo' edition of This Week In Vexillology.   So put on your sombreros, get ready to get loco for Cinco de Mayo because this week...  it's MEXICO!

Adopted on November 2nd, 1821 for national and civil usage, the basic design is derived from, what else?  The French Tricolore.   Red, white and green are the colors of the national liberation army in Mexico that lead the struggle for independence against Spain in the early 1800s.  Mexico ran into a problem when Italy came along in the 1860s however and so they added the Arms of Mexico in the center of the flag to distinguish it from the Italian one.

The Arms of Mexico are drawn from an old Aztec legend that stated that they should found their city on the spot where they saw an eagle on a cactus, eating a snake.  (By happy coincidence, they found one on an island in a lake in central Mexico and promptly found Tenochtitlán- which after the Spanish destroyed what would have been one of the Wonders of the World had it survived became Mexico City)  The ribbon below the cactus is in the national colors of red, white and green.

Now that the fun stuff is out of the way, let's get our knowledge on kids:  Mexican Independence Day is celebrated on September 16th and comemmorates the famous Grito de Dolores which launched the Mexican War of Independence in 1810.  Here's the slightly mind blowing thing (to me, anyway) about the Grito de Dolores...  it's probably the most famous speech in Mexican history and nobody knows exactly what was said.  There's a variation, the Grito Mexicano which is used by the President to launch Independence Day celebrations ever year but what Hidalgo actually said is still up for debate.  And although Hidalgo was ultimately unsuccessful it was his Grito de Dolores that launched a fight for independence that culminated in Agustin de Iturbide winning independence in 1821.

(Interestingly enough, 12 years after Dolores it was Brazil's turn to have a 'Grito' of their own... in their case, Dom Pedro II went for brevity at Ipiranga and with a hearty cry of 'Independence or Death!' proclaimed Brazil independant... with what came to be called 'The Cry of Ipiranga')

Cinco de Mayo on the other hand is something completely different!  It celebrates the victory of Mexican forces over the invading French forces on May 5th, 1862.  The French had 8,000 well equipped soldiers, the Mexicans were less well equipped and had 4,500.  The Mexicans won! The Battle of Puebla marks the last time that the Americas were invaded by a European Army- they marked the first defeat of the French Army (at the time) in 50 years.  Ultimately, the Mexicans weren't successful and there was this brief, weird, three year interlude from 1864-1867 when Emperor Maximillian I attempted a revival of the Mexican Monarchy (with the backing of Napoleon III of France).  It didn't work.  By 1867 the United States was emerging from the Civil War and was more than willing to lend Mexico a hand in getting rid of the French and it probably didn't help that Maximillian was, in fact, Austrian. 

Over the years, the holiday has gained far more importance amongst Mexican-American communities in the United States than it has in Mexico itself- though given the fact that the Mexican Victory kept the French from supplying the Confederates fully for another year or so, Cinco De Mayo had an impact on the Civil War itself.  Which to me is just another reason to celebrate!  (As if the thought of the well-trained, supposedly awesome French Army losing to a Mexican Army half its size doesn't make you smile...   go on, admit it!  It does.)

So now you know, kids...  (and like the wise man said- knowing is half the battle!)  Anyway- go do some body shots of tequila and put your hands together for Mexico!  And remember, until next time- keep your flags flying- FREAK or otherwise...