Mexican consulate plans Cinco de Mayo festivities

If there's a holiday in Mexico that normally doesn't cause much excitement, it's Cinco de Mayo, or the 5th of May.

It's sometimes confused on this side of the border with independence day — actually Sept. 16, the date in 1810 when Mexico declared its independence from Spain.

In fact, Cinco de Mayo is the day in 1862 when the Mexican army beat invading French forces at the Battle of Puebla.

That victory represented merely a setback for the French, who went on to conquer Mexico. It would not be for another five years that Mexico gained its independence.

So while Cinco de Mayo is observed in Mexico, it's not celebrated as passionately as the events surrounding the 16th of September.

This year, however, the Mexican Consulate in Yuma plans to make a bigger deal of Cinco de Mayo since it falls on a milestone year: the 150th anniversary of the battle.

The details haven't been finalized, but the consulate is looking at hosting various events in the Yuma area to mark the holiday, including a Mexican rodeo (known as a charreada), a documentary film festival, presentations by acclaimed writers, and a photo exhibit, said Miguel Escobar, the consul in Yuma.

He said the consulate is in negotiations to bring to the Yuma area Paco Ignacio Taibo II, a prolific Mexican novelist whose work includes numerous books of history of Mexico, plus the photos from Sonora photographer Alejandra Platt's exhibit “En el nombre de Dios” (“In the name of God”), which depicts Indian life in Mexico.

“We hope to reach an agreement for them to come,” Escobar said. “It's not yet a certainty, but they are among the artists and groups with whom we are in talks.”

Traditionally, Somerton celebrates Cinco de Mayo with a festival and parade, and the consulate has been talking with city officials about how the two can collaborate in a celebration this year, added Manuel Cuen, a spokesman for the consulate.