Cinco de Mayo: Historical Origin and Modern Celebrations

Today, Cinco de Mayo, has a fascinating historical legacy often overlooked in the focus on Mexican-themed food, drink, and celebrations in the U.S.

Cinco de Mayo commemorates the anniversary of Mexico's victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862 under General Ignacio Zaragoza.

What's the history?

• In 1861, Mexico declared a temporary moratorium on the repayment of foreign debts, prompting English, Spanish, and French troops to invade.
• By April 1862, the English and Spanish had withdrawn, but the French, who were supported by wealthy landowners in the country, tried to establish a monarchy under Maximilian of Austria. The battle was considered an against-all-odds victory for the Mexican forces against those of Napoleon III.
• Then-President Benito Juárez established the day as a national holiday following the victory.

How is it celebrated in Mexico?

• Cinco de Mayo is celebrated with parades and historical reenactments and fosters a sense of national and communal pride.
• The day is celebrated in Mexico but does not compare to the popularity of their Independence Day celebrations. It is more commonly celebrated in the U.S. as a celebration of Mexican and Mexican-American culture.
• The holiday began to gain popularity during the Chicano Movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Mario García, a Chicanx historian from the University of California at Santa Barbara, said:

"It becomes a Chicano holiday, in many ways, linked to the Chicano movement, because we discover Mexicans resisting a foreign invader. They link the struggle of the Chicano movement to Cinco de Mayo."

What are the misconceptions surrounding Cinco de Mayo?

• In the U.S., the historical legacy is shrouded in "Cinco de Drinko" celebrations and cheap Corona specials.
• Many incorrectly assume that May 5 is Mexico's Independence Day, which is actually September 16, the date in 1810 when Mexico broke free of Spanish rule.
• Garcia said:

"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. 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."

• Dr. Lavariega Monforti, the vice provost of California State University, Channel Islands, said:

"By the 1990s, most of the public discourse about the day had been refocused on it as a time to consume imported beer, tequila and Mexican food."

Will you celebrate Cinco de Mayo?

—Emma Kansiz