Students will have the opportunity to learn about Mexican history and customs today as Cinco de Mayo is celebrated at the Duck Pond.
"It is going to be an awesome event," said James Aranda, graduate assistant to El Centro de la Raza, one of the groups sponsoring the festivities. "We want this to be an opportunity for diverse groups to come together."
The festivities will include food booths, games and informational booths from various student organizations.
Educational boards with important historical dates of Mexico will also be on display, said Paula Blea, co-chair of Movimiento Estudantil Chicano de Aztl†n (MECha), one of the groups sponsoring the celebration.
"We really want students to understand what this is about, especially since it is often confused with Mexico's Independence Day," Blea said.
There will be numerous performances at the event by Mariachi Lobo, Ballet Folkl¢rico and the Capoeira Club.
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She said the University would be hosting students from several surrounding high schools this afternoon, who will also be taking part in the merriment of the day. Bernalillo Middle School confirmed 120 students will attend.
Aranda said he is hoping the celebration will help dispel the myth that Cinco de Mayo is just another day to drink.
"It is a complex issue," he said. "The way (Cinco de Mayo) is advertised, the alcohol companies have really jumped on the chance to make it a bigger holiday than it really is."
Aranda said Cinco de Mayo is more of a military holiday in Mexico.
"It is similar to President's Day here," he said. "It should be recognized, but we fail to know what it is really about."
Eraina Edwards, a UNM sophomore, said her family does not celebrate Cinco de Mayo.
"I think it is fun," Edwards said. "It is not as big as other holidays, but it should still be recognized."
Cinco de Mayo, which means the fifth of May, is the day that commemorates the Mexican victory over Napoleon and the French army at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.
"This is a very important day," Blea said. "One of the things that came from the battle was the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, and that affected a lot of the land in the surrounding area."
Blea said the battle was a significant event in Mexican history and it needs to be remembered.
"It was one of the main battles that shaped Mexico's existence," Blea said.
Aranda said he is optimistic the student body will be receptive to activities.
"We have tried really hard to shift the emphasis from just Cinco de Mayo to celebrating the end of the year," he said. "After everything that has happened this year, we are hoping everyone will put everything aside and celebrate."
He also said he is hoping that people will not think that the Cinco de Mayo celebration is open only to people of certain populations or cultures.
"This is a community event," Aranda said. "We just want everyone to come together."
