Cinco De Mayo (May 5) Celebrations And History Explained

One of the biggest fiestas of the year is just around the corner — but Cinco de Mayo, or the fifth of May, is much more than an annual celebration of Mexican culture. 

Some people see it as a chance to enjoy a Cinco de Mayo party with Mexican food and drinks. Many places hold parades and other events to mark the occasion. Let’s look at the roots of Cinco de Mayo and see how people mark the day in their own ways. 

What Is the Significance of Cinco de Mayo? 

Cinco de Mayo marks one of the Mexican Army’s most celebrated victories. On May 5, 1862, outnumbered Mexican soldiers defeated a French army at the Battle of Puebla. Cinco de Mayo is also known as the Battle of Puebla Day. 

The Mexican victory on that day was just one among years of battles between Mexican and French forces, but it has come to symbolize a particular spirit and determination among Mexicans — a David versus Goliath tale. 

What Circumstances Led to the Battle of Puebla? 

Benito Juárez was Mexico’s president from 1858-1872, with some years as ex-facto president. However, events leading to the Battle of Puebla germinated in the forty years before.  

Juárez had come to power during a time when the country was struggling to pay its foreign debts due to three crippling wars: 

• 1821: Independence from Spain 
• 1846–1848: Mexican-American war 
• 1858-60: civil war, also known as the Mexican War of the Reform or the Three Years’ War. 

The costs of these wars took their toll on Mexico and its finances. In 1861, Juárez stopped paying monies to some European nations. 

So the British, Spanish, and French sent troops to Mexico to demand the honoring of payments. After discussions, the British and Spanish returned home. However, the French had other ideas. 

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What Happened at the Battle of Puebla? 

Napoleon III, or Charles-Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte in full, was emperor of France at the time. He wanted to establish a pro-French monarchy in Mexico, under the watch of Maximilian of Austria. Napoleon III felt Maximilian would be the perfect ally for France in Mexico. The emperor sent soldiers to land at Veracruz, in the Gulf of Mexico, to begin his campaign. 

In 1862, a reported 6,000 French troops marched to Puebla in east central Mexico to confront around 2,000 Mexican soldiers. Led by General Ignacio Zaragoza, and despite being massive underdogs, the locals defeated the better-equipped French on that day, the fifth of May. 

The victory inspired the Mexicans, who used “Cinco de Mayo!” as a rallying cry nationwide against any further French incursions over the next few years. There were victories and defeats for the Mexicans — French forces captured Mexico City in 1863 and installed Maximilian as emperor for a few years — but the spirit of Cinco de Mayo remained. 

Maximilian was eventually left isolated in Mexico after Napoleon III withdrew his troops. With increased U.S. military support, following the conclusion of the American Civil War, Maximilian was captured and executed in June 1867. Just five years after the Battle of Puebla, and after only four years of rule under Maximilian, Benito Juárez was reinstated as president of Mexico. 

Cinco de Mayo thus became an iconic and celebrated date in the Mexican psyche and a symbolic date in its history.  

North Americans might also be living on a very different continent had it not been for General Ignacio Zaragoza and his troops. Mexican historian Justo Sierra speculated in his book The Political Evolution of the Mexican People that a French victory at Puebla may have seen France take Mexico earlier. That would have opened up the chance for the French to join the Confederate Army in the American Civil War, possibly tipping the war in favor of the South. 

This could have changed the course of United States history — and world history — forever. 

How Long Did the Battle of Puebla Last? 

The Battle of Puebla lasted only one day, yet its symbolism inspired Mexican resistance for more than five years. It helped rally troops in many battles that led to the reinstatement of Juárez as president of Mexico, with the cry of “Cinco de Mayo!” heard often to boost soldiers’ and residents’ morale. 

Is Cinco de Mayo Mexico’s Independence Day? 

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Many people confuse Cinco de Mayo with Mexican Independence Day. Cinco de Mayo, on May 5, commemorates the victory at the Battle of Puebla against French soldiers and not Mexico’s independence from Spain.  

Mexicans celebrate their independence from Spain on September 16, which is a national holiday. September 16 marks the day when Catholic priest Father Hidalgo roused Mexicans with the first cry for freedom in 1810. It wasn’t until 1821 that Mexican troops overthrew the Spanish by taking control of Mexico City and declaring their independence from Spain. 

In the United States, neither Cinco de Mayo nor Mexican Independence Day is a national holiday. However, much like St Patrick’s Day, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in many places. 

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Celebrating Cinco de Mayo: Customs and Fiestas 

Cinco de Mayo means many things to many people. At the time, the David versus Goliath-style narrative united the Mexican nation in a common cause and became a source of national pride. Above all, the Battle of Puebla allowed Mexican people to believe in their heritage and customs and their ability to protect their land from incursions from even the most powerful nations. 

Today, both Mexicans and Americans celebrate Cinco de Mayo. The United States and Mexico share more than just borders; the two countries’ peoples and customs are interwoven together. 

Indeed, in 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau reported that the U.S. had a population of 62.1 million people who identified as Hispanic or Latino. That represents a 23% growth in numbers in a decade — the Hispanic or Latino population now represents 18.7% of the total U.S. population. 

This means that Cinco de Mayo is a date to celebrate for people on both sides of the border. It also helps that General Ignacio Zaragoza was born in what is now Goliad, Texas. Today, Goliad is the Texas Senate’s official Cinco de Mayo celebration spot. 

How Do People Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in Mexico? 

Despite Cinco de Mayo’s origins being Mexican, the day is commemorated on a regional rather than a national level. It’s not an official national holiday, either, with banks and businesses staying open. 

The state of Puebla, where the battle took place, is the focal point for remembrance, and Puebla state students get the day off school. There are reenactments of the battle, with people dressing up as French troops and Mexican soldiers. Many participants throw firecrackers and set off fireworks in the lively and colorful battle scene reenactments. 

Puebla’s Cinco de Mayo parade features a large military procession with up to 20,000 people taking part. Mariachi bands accompany the dancers, who wear beautiful costumes. 

Food includes mole poblano, Mexico’s famous spicy chocolate sauce made with chiles, nuts, and other spices, covering succulent turkey or chicken. In fact, mole poblano is famous at many Mexican special events, from weddings to baby showers. 

Many people hold quieter celebrations at home, perhaps with a mariachi band guesting for a short time, and reflect on Mexico’s history and evolution. Food and drinks are served, and while some gatherings may become lively, people often focus on the historical meaning of Cinco de Mayo, rather than the party that is more associated with the U.S. version.  

History of Cinco de Mayo Celebrations in the U.S.  

Today, Cinco de Mayo is a very different affair in the United States.  

Mexican communities first commemorated the day in the U.S. with the glorification of Mexican heritage at its heart, similar to the people of Puebla. California has hosted Cinco de Mayo celebrations since the battle took place. However, Cinco de Mayo remained relatively unknown in most parts of the U.S. until the 1960s, when Mexican-American activists started to raise its profile. 

The Chicano Movement was the most significant civil rights movement by people of Mexican descent in the United States. Part of the Chicano movement’s focus was to impart the story of Mexico’s heritage into the story of Mexicans living in the United States. This included the historical facts and importance of Cinco de Mayo. 

The U.S. versions of Cinco de Mayo started in Southern California. Indeed, the largest Cinco de Mayo festival in the U.S. today is the Fiesta Broadway, held in downtown Los Angeles. Latin American artists perform, and there is food and drink from local vendors along Broadway and the streets surrounding City Hall. 

How Do People Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in the U.S.?

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Cinco de Mayo’s rising profile among people of Mexican descent in the 1960s didn’t go unnoticed. Alcohol companies figured out that the day had marketing possibilities, too. Commercialization birthed a reimagined Cinco de Mayo. For that reason, the U.S. atmosphere on May 5 can feel very different from that of Mexico. 

Beer, spirits, margaritas, and music have helped Cinco de Mayo earn the label “drinko de Mayo,” and the day has been featured as one of America’s top drunken holidays. Cinco de Mayo has also been said to be a Mexico-influenced St. Patrick’s Day: Instead of gallons of Guinness, people consume Mexican drinks, often to excess. There are big festivals in many cities, including Chicago, Denver, Portland, and St. Paul in Minnesota. The Texas event at Goliad is of importance, too. 

Tipples like tequila, Corona beer, micheladas, and margaritas dominate the bars, with some people enjoying more than a few. At the same time, mariachi bands provide a party atmosphere, making it a lively day. 

Mexican restaurants serve Mexican-inspired food like tacos, enchiladas, and chiles rellenos, albeit the fare is often more Tex-Mex than authentic Mexican food. The heady combination of colorful dress, dancing, spicy food, and strong liquor is undoubtedly one that encourages people to enjoy the festivities to the maximum. 

The Lowdown on Cinco de Mayo Celebrations 

Cinco de Mayo recognizes one of Mexico’s most emblematic military victories against invading French soldiers. Although the Battle of Puebla lasted just one day, Cinco de Mayo is a regional commemoration in Mexico rather than a national one, with reenactments, speeches, and fireworks. It is a time for recognizing the importance of Mexican culture and heritage, as well as remembering the bravery of the day. 

Over the border in the United States, Cinco de Mayo was an understated remembrance of the underdog for many years. Then, in the 1960s, a potent mix of a cultural awakening coupled with commercialization led to a different Cinco de Mayo being born. 

Brash, loud, and colorful, the U.S. Cinco de Mayo is one of the country’s biggest drinking and party days. Mexican-American foods, drinks, and colorful traditional costumes intertwine with rousing traditional music to create a party atmosphere. 

Whichever way you choose to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, whether partaking in Mexican or U.S. celebrations of the day or just firing up your natural gas grill, eating out, or enjoying a parade, be sure to raise a glass to all the brave Mexican soldiers of yore. 

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