Monday Memories: Mexican heritage celebrated on Cinco de Mayo
Lively mariachi music and colorful swirling skirts coalesced to celebrate Cinco de Mayo at the East Toledo Family Center in 2003. In this Blade archive photo, Irene Mineoi, with Imagenes Mexicanas, fans her skirt as she dances in front of a group of children. That year the holiday was celebrated on the South Lawn of the White House for the first time. Ms. Mineoi danced with the troupe at the White House when she was in eighth grade as part of the Fiesta and Ethnic Foods Reception attended by White House officials and government leaders. The day marks the 1862 David versus Goliath victory known as the Battle of Puebla, during which a ragtag Mexican force of 2,000 defeated 6,000 elite French soldiers. The holiday does not mark Mexican independence from the Spanish colonial government, celebrated on Sept. 16. Go to thebladevault.com/memories to purchase more historical photos taken by our award-winning staff of photographers, past and present, or to purchase combinations of stories and photos.