Rockford’s Hispanic community resists Cinco de Mayo commercialization

ROCKFORD, Ill. (WTVO) — Monday is Cinco De Mayo, in which Americans indulge in Mexican culture, although some Hispanic residents feel the holiday, which celebrates the Mexican army’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, has become too commercialized.

“As the Latino population grew in the United States, Cinco de Mayo became a commercialized holiday and then started, as you can see, today, we celebrate by trying to indulge ourselves with Mexican food, with margaritas, with other stuff,” said Ricardo Montoya Picazo, vice president of the Greater Rockford Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

The Battle of Puebla was a five-day battle during the French-Mexican War.

“We, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, want to ensure that that is a reference that we’re looking outside of the commercialized aspect, but we’re looking at the historical component of why this battle happened,” said Picazo. “What is the meaning of this victory, and what was the meaning for the Mexican people, trying to declare their independence and sovereignty?”

The Chamber said it supports the celebration of Latino and Mexican culture, but hopes that residents are also supporting local Hispanic-owned businesses.

“There are other businesses that can maybe have a special or something like that, service industry, or completely unrelated to food or drinking. We have so many businesses in our Hispanic community that we’re not just restaurants and tacos,” Sully Cadengo, president of the Chamber, said.

“It’s more than just having a margarita. It’s about understanding the Mexican people and their culture and why the Battle of Puebla is celebrated,” Picazo added.

While Cinco De Mayo celebrates the victory in battle, Mexicans celebrate September 16th as Mexican Independence Day.