The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
CINCO DE MAYO STYLE
Mexican Mutual Society hosts party to celebrate fashions, traditions and food
A parade and party with a Mexican flair took place with participants gathering to walk and visit in South Lorain.
The Mexican Mutual Society hosted an annual Cinco de Mayo celebration on May 5. The events began with a parade from St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Church to the organization’s social club at 1820 E. 28th St.
The events concluded with music, food, dancing and the crowning of the Little Queen.
This year, Eleyna Szakats, 5, of Amherst, wore the tiara and red cape.
She is the daughter of Meghan and Graig Szakats, who grew up in South Lorain and rejoined the society for their children to participate in the events. Their son, Emmett, 4, was Eleyna’s escort
“All the food in there is authentic. You can’t beat it.”
— Tanya Villa of Lorain, who recommended the tamales
to the stage set up outdoors at the society’s yard.
“We joined because it’s a family tradition and we wanted her to be a part of that,” Meghan Szakats said. “And this has been a wonderful day, from the parade to the crowning of the queen. It’s been wonderful.”
“She was born for this,” Graig Szakats said about Eleyna.
“She loved it,” Meghan Szakats said. “I thought the Mexican Mutual really put on a good display.”
“They exceeded expectations,” Graig Szakats said.
Szakats’ court were: First Runner Up Neveah Hamilton; Second Runner Up Isabella Ostolaza; Duchess I Angela Sanchez; and Duchess II Arrayah Craighead.
Their families were joined by dozens of others at the society social hall and hundreds of people lining the parade route.
Tanya Villa of Lorain renewed her membership in the organization and brought friend Lois Pozega of Lorain to the Cinco de Mayo party.
Among the Mexican dishes on the menu, Villa recommended the tamales.
“They’re excellent,” she said. “All the food in there is authentic. You can’t beat it.”
Pozega, executive director of Family Promise in Oberlin, said she enjoyed her time at the celebration.
Villa said her grandparents were among the founding members of the society and she hopes to make a trip to Mexico soon. For Lorain, the Cinco de Mayo commemoration should be an institution, she said.
“Hopefully this kind of grows, because we really do need to keep our culture alive in the community,” Villa said.
Sisters Falicia Cruz and Samantha Boneta brought their sons to be part of Alma de Mexico group, who perform traditional dances at events including the Lorain International Festival.
Boneta noted her son Eli, 1 year, still is a newcomer to the moves.
“He’s learning. He knows that after the kids clap, he’s supposed to clap,” she said.
The best part of the event is “just our family getting together and seeing everybody celebrate our culture,” Cruz said. “Because I feel like people don’t know what it’s about or they don’t celebrate it anymore.”
Her son, Angelo, 2 years, wore a traditional suit that her father, the late Frank Cruz Jr., brought back from a trip to Texas near the U.S.-Mexico border. The sisters agreed their father was passionate about their sons’ continuing the family tradition of performing the dances.
“It gives everybody else a chance to learn about different cultures as well,” Cruz said.