Page "Venustiano Carranza, D.F." Paragraph 18

The Battle of Puebla has been reenacted each year at the Peñón de los Baños since 1930.

Residents of this area dress as the Mexican forces, called Zacapoaxtlas and the French army and even includes the firing of cannons with blanks for effect.

The reenactment is performed by hundreds of residents of three neighborhoods around Peñón de los Baños, with the event occurring in the neighborhood of that name.

The divide to represent the French army and the band of peasants called Zacapoaxtlas along with Mexican soldiers which won the historical battle.

The event begins early in the morning on May 5 with a salute to the Mexican flag and a parade to the Peñón de los Baños mountain.

The first act occurs in Barrio del Carmen, then another act to commemorate the Treaty of Loreto and the Treaty of Guadalupe on Hidalgo and Chihualcan Streets.

After this, there is a large shared banquet with food provided by area residents to the mock soldiers.

Then there is an inspection of the troops by one playing General Zaragoza, with a tradition of cutting the hair of a new member of the troops for “ lice .” The last battle occurs in the evening with the French troops climbing on airport side and the Mexican troops on the Río Consulado side.

It is at this time that cannons with blanks are fired.

When the French are defeated, they run down the mountain and through the Barrio del Carmen where they are chased and then “ executed ” at the area cemetery.

After the day ’ s events, there is a festival, dance and carnival.