Before Cinco de Mayo became associated with tacos and margaritas, the day served as a reminder of Mexico’s triumph over the French.
Celebrated annually, Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican army’s victory over the Second French Empire, led by Napoleon III, at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, hence the name. The holiday is celebrated across the U.S. and in parts of Mexico, particularly in the City of Puebla, where the epic battle took place.
Americans, including people of Mexican American heritage, along with our neighbors in Mexico, celebrate with parades, festivals, music and food. This year, Cinco de Mayo falls on Monday, May 5.
While Cinco de Mayo honors Mexico’s resilience and bravery in the face of strife, the holiday has also become, for some, an excuse to party.
“Everyone thinks that it’s just party time, it’s Corona time,” Mario García, a Chicanx historian from the University of California at Santa Barbara, shared in a
May 2023 interview with USA TODAY.
“It’s OK for people to go out and have a good time on a holiday like Cinco de Mayo — at least they have some sense that it’s some kind of a Mexican holiday,” García said. “But we should go beyond that. We should have Cinco de Mayo events that go beyond partying and drinking, where we call attention to what the history is.”
Here’s what to know about the origins of Cinco de Mayo, and how it’s celebrated in the U.S. today.
Why is Cinco de Mayo often confused with Mexico’s Independence Day?
Though many might know the lore behind Cinco de Mayo, it is often confused with Mexico’s Independence Day, which falls on Sept. 16. It is known as the Día de la Independencia in Mexico.
Part of the confusion about what Cinco de Mayo celebrates likely stems from the names of the two holidays, which might be harder for some English speakers to say. Cinco de Mayo is much catchier than the day of Mexico’s independence (Diez y seis de Septiembre), García said.
Another issue is that not enough American schools teach the importance of Chicanx history and its peoples’ contributions to the U.S.
“When you study the history of Chicanos and Latinos, of course, they’ve been history makers,” García said. “They’ve been involved in all aspects of American history, not to mention the wars … In World War II alone, almost half a million Latinos – mostly Mexican Americans – fought in the war. And they won a disproportionate number of congressional Medals of Honor.”
The Battle at Puebla also occurred more than 50 years after the country broke free of Spanish rule. The reason the battle happened in the first place was because French Emperor Charles-Louis Napoléon Bonaparte wanted to claim Mexico for himself.
The French sent troops to force President Benito Juárez and the government out of Veracruz, Mexico.
An outnumbered band of Mexican soldiers faced
at daybreak in Puebla, a city in east-central Mexico, on May 5, 1862. Mexico, miraculously, was able to claim victory by the evening, at which time Juárez declared May 5 a national holiday.
The victory also helped prevent the French from settling in and helping the American Confederacy in the Civil War, according to
History.com
.
Why is Cinco de Mayo more popular in the U.S. than in Mexico?
Cinco de Mayo celebrations do occur in Mexico, most notably in the City of Puebla; those events don’t compare to Día de la Independencia celebrations, García said. Meanwhile, in the U.S, it’s become an annual celebration of Mexican American culture.
It began as a form of resistance to the effects of the Mexican-American War in the late 19th century. The holiday gained popularity during the
of the 1960s and 1970s.
“It becomes a Chicano holiday, in many ways, linked to the Chicano movement, because we discover Mexicans resisting a foreign invader,” García said. “They link the struggle of the Chicano movement to Cinco de Mayo.”
Companies, especially beer companies and restaurants, began commercializing the holiday in the 1980s, offering customers “Cinco de Mayo” specials and cocktails.
The holiday is now known to some as Cinco de Drinko, and to García as “Corona Day.” This Cinco de Mayo, García hopes everyone enjoys their Coronas, but perhaps with a little history lesson to wash it down.
Cinco de Mayo celebrated around the U.S.
San Diego
: San Diego’s Cinco de Mayo celebrations were held May 3 and 4 in
Old Town San Diego
. Activities included live music, folklorico, dining and drink specials.
Denver
: The Mile High City hosted several holiday-related activities over the weekend of May 3 for
Cinco de Mayo Denver, from a community parade to chihuahua races. Events were held May 3-4 at Denver Civic Center Park from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
St. Paul, Minnesota: St. Paul’s annual Cinco de Mayo celebration was in the city’s West Side neighborhood and was one of Minnesota’s largest Latino events. This year, festivities were held May 3 and included live performances, a car show and pro wrestling.
San Antonio, Texas:Fiesta San Antonio is a 10-day celebration of state history and culture with parades, fairs, art shows, music and food. Festivities continued until Sunday, May 4.
Los Angeles: Fiesta Broadway, one of the largest Latino and Cinco de Mayo festivals in the world, runs down four blocks in downtown Los Angeles. The annual festival happened this year on April 27, according to event organizers.
Contributing: Emily DeLetter, Jordan Mendoza and Maria Jimenez Moya, USA TODAY
