(5 May 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mexico City, Mexico – 05 May 2024
1. Various of cannon firing, residents recreating battle
2. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Jorge Arriaga, participant:
"It feels of great happiness, the happiness that one feels as a ‘peñonero’ (resident) is great. These traditions were left to us by our grandparents and from a very young age we began to go out (to the performance)."
3. Various of residents dancing and parading through the neighborhood before re-enactment
4. Young man puts powder in his rifle to make it detonate
5. Detonation of rifles for performance
6. SOUNDBITE (Spanish) Abraham Ezequiel Arista, participant:
"My father was this character for 29 years, he died 3 years ago as a result of the pandemic, and I inherited the role with great pride, with great joy but above all also with a lot of nostalgia and remembering his name."
7. Couple watches the performance
8. Cannon being detonated
9. Children dressed French army watch the performance
10. Youth as a part of the Mexican defense dancing
STORYLINE:
Hundreds of people dressed in costumes representing soldiers from both sides as they marked Sunday the anniversary of the 1862 victory by Mexican troops over invading French forces at the Battle of Puebla.
The participants re-enacted the triumph over the better equipped and higher number of French troops.
“Cinco de Mayo” as it is known in the United States is not an official holiday in Mexico and is barely recognized by most Mexicans living south of the Rio Grande.
The battle re-enactment carried out in Mexico City for years in a popular neighborhood has become an activity that is passed from generation to generation.
While most residents play the role of the soldiers in general, there are historic figures such Gen. Ignacio Zaragoza. that are inherited.
"My father was this character for 29 years, he died 3 years ago as a result of the pandemic," said Abraham Ezequiel Arista. "I inherited the role with great pride, with great joy but above all also with a lot of nostalgia and remembering his name."
For 67-year-old Jorge Arriaga, who has spent more than 35 years performing in this activity, taking part of the re-enactment brings him "great happiness."
"These traditions were left to us by our grandparents and from a very young age we began to go out (in the re-enactment)."
Historical reenactments and parades are held annually in the central Mexico city of Puebla to commemorate the inspirational victory, with participants dressed in historical French and Mexican army uniforms.
AP video by Amaranta Marentes.
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