When Market Street to the Almaden Boulevard between Santa Clara and San 
Carlos Streets is closed, the Santa Clara Valley community knows that 
San Jose is celebrating its annual Cinco de Mayo Festival and parade.
The Cinco de Mayo Festival is also characterized as having a mass 
participation of over 300,000 people strolling and stopping by over 230
curbside booths selling tacos, traditional Mexican pasteries, and crafts. 
This Mexican national holiday not only celebrates the fact that Benito
Juarez suspended interest payments on loans from France, England, and 
Spain (which eventually  resulted in the defeat of the French and the 
victory of Puebla on May 5, 1862), but it also celebrates the spiritual 
renewal of Mexico. These victories seems to be more significant than the
Mexican Independence, because over the years Cinco de Mayo has created an   
image of resistance to oppression and a hunger to improve overall living 
conditions.

The Cinco de Mayo Festival is made possible through the sponsorship of the 
American GI FORUM, the vendors, and the community which mostly 
participate in the parade. There are also other activities that take place 
during this festive day. The Children's Discovery Museum held a special 
exhibition for children to make tortillas, corn husk dolls and paper 
flowers. In addition, there are arts and craft displays in the halls  
of the San Jose Civic Auditorium.

The Cinco de Mayo Festival allows Mexican American children and the 
society to see positive aspects of the Mexican culture. For instance,     
most, if not all, of the events during this annual Festival are centered on 
educating the public with the intention of bringing some of this Latino
flavor into our multicultural society. 

Further reading:

Elizabeth Wasserman,"Shoulder to Shoulder Celebration thousands pack
downtown for the Cinco de Mayo Festival", San Jose Mercury News,
Monday, 8 May 1995, Morning Final Edition, Sec. Local p.1B

"Celebrating Cinco de Mayo",San Jose Mercury News, Sunday, 7 May 1995,
Morning Final Edition, Sec. Local p.7B

"Rounding up Cinco de Mayo", San Jose Mercury News, Thursday 4 May 1995, 
Morning Edition, Sec. Living p.8C

Jennifer Viegas, "Food from Puebla for 5 de Mayo", Morning Final
Edition, Sec. Food p.1C

Dora Arredondo