As margarita glasses clinked and mariachi music filled the air, San Antonio's Cinco de Mayo celebration lit up Market Square with a display of Mexican-American pride and festivity. From May 4 to May 5, the area was transformed into a vibrant hub for families and friends to revel in rich cultural offerings — from food to live music, according to FOX San Antonio. Yet amid the revelry, a heavier police presence was noticeable this year, a mere six days following a shootout during San Antonio's Fiesta that tragically ended in two fatalities.

The commemoration, which ran from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. over the two days, drew citizens from all corners of the city who turned up for an array of delights including, pinata candy drops, cotton candy, candy bag giveaways, and the sight of stilt characters towering over the crowds. The event was open to the public, free of charge, in a conscious effort to encourage community participation and healing after the recent violence shook the locale.

However, while San Antonio and other U.S. cities decked out the streets for Cinco de Mayo, the atmosphere in Mexico was markedly different. Across the border, the fifth of May is barely observed, in contrast to the U.S., where it’s turned into an all-out festival — from happy hours to taco deals, based on information from My San Antonio. This disenchantment can largely be attributed to the skewed perception of the holiday in America, where its historical significance tends to be overshadowed by a penchant for partying heavy on the guacamole and tequila, sans cultural sincerity.

Despite this, the color and camaraderie of Cinco de Mayo festivities stateside provide a platform for Mexican-Americans to celebrate and share their cultural heritage. Critics, however, do take issue with the commercial exploitation of the event and the sometimes offensive caricatures that emerge in the midst of the fun. With big business riding the coattails of the celebration, facets of Mexican culture—sombreros, and all—often become accessories for a fiesta disconnected from its origins. As the resident's of San Antonio's Market Square can attest to, the true essence of Cinco de Mayo might be found more in community solidarity and cultural reflection than in cradling the next cerveza.