By Sitlali Cortes, The Seattle Medium
Every Cinco de Mayo before the pandemic, many would flock to the Roberto Maestas Plaza at El Centro De La Raza to experience and enjoy authentic Mexican food, entertainment, culture and community.
This year El Centro, an organization whose mission is to build community and unify all racial and economic backgrounds, will celebrate their 16th annual Cinco de Mayo in hopes of bringing the community together, and Veronica Gallardo, property manager and cultural events coordinator, has been helping to assure that this event goes off without a hitch.
While Cinco de Mayo is not overly celebrated in Mexico, here in the United States it is used as a way for Mexican Americans to go back to their roots and celebrate their culture.
“It is a cultural event for us,” Gallardo said. “It brings us back to the roots of the Chicano Movement and our founders of El Centro De La Raza. Doing something that was really important to them.
“Cinco de Mayo was kind of the roots of the Chicano Movement. The battle of Puebla was such an important battle, the little guy versus the big guy. It has created a pride within the Mexican people,” she said.
“It is not about margaritas and sombreros; it is about the people.”
Cinco De Mayo commemorates the battle in which the Mexican army was victorious at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican war. Winning this war was a symbolic victory for the Mexican government and reinforced resistance. Since then, this holiday has been used to showcase pride and respect for Mexican culture and heritage.
Hilda Magaña, child development director who works with children in dual-language learning at El Centro, affirms the importance of this event for the children and their families. Last year, “Our parents were so happy because part of our curriculum and our activities at El Centro is to bring people together from all races, all backgrounds and they were so happy. It creates a sense of community.”
Losing touch with one’s roots is a struggle that many Mexican Americans face, which is the reason it is important to celebrate the culture and heritage that are at the root of it all.
“As an immigrant coming from Guadalajara, Mexico, we strongly believe that it is very important to have this type of cultural event because we need our country. We get homesick,” Magaña said.
“For us it is very important to have this type of event because we are from two countries. We are here in the United States but we have our roots in Mexico. We strongly believe that it is important to mention positive things that Mexican culture contributes to the beautiful history of our country.”
El Centro, located just off the Beacon Hill light rail stop, works with youth as well as adults through programs ranging from dual language help all the way to economic development.
This event will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 6. A mercado with numerous food vendors is expected, along with various children activities and lots of cultural entertainment from 11a.m. to 4 p.m.
Leah Hernandez, a community member and vendor, who runs Lada’Nada Empanadas, a pop-up shop and soon to be commercial kitchen in Central District, is one of many vendors preparing for the festivities this Saturday.
The people “are why I come back. This is the place I started and it is a significant place. It is like family, each time the same people come out,” Hernandez said.
Lada’Nada Empanadas along with many other businesses will be open for the festivities happening this Saturday. They are excited to meet and celebrate this culture driven celebration with the community and they hope to see you there!
