Cinco de Mayo celebration is tradition

Friday, May. 09, 2014

MIDVALE — Twenty-six years ago Fausto Rivera started a celebration that today gathers a whole town together, along with many visitors.

Back in the day, the Rivera family had a small restaurant in Midvale in which they started to have a dinner to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, which commemorates the victory  of the Mexican militia over the French army at The Battle of Puebla in 1862. 

“It is not, as many people think, Mexico’s Independence Day, which is actually Sept. 16,” said Dolores Rivera-Pahl, a parishioner of Saint Andrew Parish in Riverton. 

Today in the United States, Cinco de Mayo typically celebrates Mexican heritage and culture.

At first, “my dad did a small dinner and the mayor and other people attended, and every year it kept on getting bigger and bigger,” Rivera-Pahl said.

As the party grew, the celebration moved to Main Street in Midvale, “but then the city told us that we need to do it at the park because there was too many people that attended,” said Rivera-Pahl.

So, since 1996, the Cinco de Mayo celebration has taken place at the Midvale City Park with the participation of dancers, musicians, Mariachi bands, food vendors, games, free health clinics, and many other activities.

Rivera-Pahl said that for her and her family the celebration is more than just a party.

“I always wanted to keep my culture present and much more when I had my own kids,” said Rivera-Pahl. “Culture, traditions and faith are very important values that I wanted my family to have.”

Even though the founder of the Midvale Cinco de Mayo celebration had to step down from organizing the event, he keeps participating as much as he can.

“My dad performs with the Mariachis and he also visits all the small businesses here [in Midvale] to invite them to participate in the celebration,” said Rivera-Pahl. “All the family gets together and helps to organize the celebration – my sisters and nieces, nephews … everyone.”

Maria Ponce has attended the celebrations for more than 10 years.

“It’s great that they do this, I live here in Midvale and to be able to celebrate the Cinco de Mayo here makes me very proud of my Mexican identity,” said Ponce.

Even when Ponce did not know who organized the event she wanted to say ‘thank you,’ “because this makes me feel like home.”

Rivera-Pahl is also grateful for being able to organize the event and she also wanted to express her gratitude to her husband, Michael Pahl, who at the Easter Vigil joined the Catholic Church.

“I think the diversity is very important. My husband has learned about our culture, and now that he knows, he helps us and enjoys the celebration with us,” she said.