Cinco de Mayo: Stories, rituals, and transcendence in celebration

Abstract

Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the United States differ greatly from those in Mexico. Even popular notions of what is observed or celebrated widely contrast between the two countries. This article analyzes Internet websites, migrants’ narratives, and participant observation data of public celebrations to describe different types of storytelling. As migrants attend the public celebrations, transcendent stories about Cinco de Mayo are a way to reconstruct their identities.