Cinco de Mayo:
Festival celebrates Mexico’s food, dance and music
By Greta Kaul
Atanacio Miguel Lopez came from Pittsburg to San Francisco Saturday morning to celebrate two things: His 76th birthday and something just as special. Cinco de Mayo.
“He’s a proud Mexican,” his daughter, Esther Lopez, said of her father, who moved to the Bay Area from Oaxaca, Mexico, in 1963. The family drove to the city on this sunny weekend morning to honor Mexico’s food, dance and music at the annual Cinco de Mayo festival in San Francisco’s Mission District.
They posed for a picture under an enormous arch made of more than a hundred balloons in the red, white and green colors of the Mexican flag.
Battle of Puebla
Cinco de Mayo marks the day Mexican troops defeated the French army, on May 5, 1862, at the Battle of Puebla. More than 150 years later, the holiday has evolved into a day to celebrate Mexican culture and heritage.
“Good morning! It is Cinco de Mayo,” a man announced through the sound system. The festivities, organized by Mission Education Centers, began with Zumba dancing.
“Vamos a shake it. Baila Zumba, por favor!” the man said.
Dressed in sneakers, that’s just what Arianna Velez and her 6-year-old daughter, Luisa, had come to do.
Velez moved to San Francisco from Mexico 14 years ago and is proud of her heritage.
“It’s a great history,” said her husband, Carlos Velez. Luisa tapped her feet, anxious to dance.
In brightly colored traditional dresses and embroidered suits, a group of children filed over from the 24th Street BART Station to take the stage.
They were part of a traditional folklorico dance group from Alvarado Elementary School in Union City.
Teresa Serrano, a parent, started the dancing group this year. She wanted to give her children and others the opportunity to try something she’d loved as a youngster. It’s drawn kids from all sorts of backgrounds.
Culture connection
The dancers were excited to perform at San Francisco’s Cinco de Mayo celebration, and Serrano said it was a way for them to connect with Mexican culture.
“I never, ever, ever performed in San Francisco,” said 6-year-old Aurora Ramirez, a kindergartner. “I’m excited that the people are going to watch.”
As they danced “La Negra,” Aurora extended her arms, sending her skirt in circles as she spun. Nearby, a toddler in a front-facing pack swung her legs and clapped her fists togeth- er, making her best efforts to join in.
Lining the streets, businesses, civic and community organizations were out in numbers, too.
Mexican music
“We’re here supporting the community,” said Rosa Laura Mendez, who works at La Raza, a Bay Area radio station that plays Mexican music. “It’s not just Latino people — everybody cele- brates Cinco de Mayo now.”
Indeed, Indian street food and barbecue, acrobatics and finger painting were all offered next to stands that sold serapes and luchador fighter masks. People of all ages and backgrounds took part.