Cinco de Mayo 2024: Facts, Meaning & Celebrations | HISTORY (2024)

Cinco de Mayo, or the fifth of May, is a holiday that celebrates the date of the Mexican army’s May 5, 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. The day, which falls on Sunday, May 5 in 2024, is also known as Battle of Puebla Day. While it is a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, in the United States, Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a commemoration of Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in areas with large Mexican American populations.

Cinco de Mayo History

Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day, a popular misconception. Instead, it commemorates a single battle. In 1861, Benito Juárez—a lawyer and member of the Indigenous Zapotec tribe—was elected president of Mexico. At the time, the country was in financial ruin after years of internal strife, and the new president was forced to default on debt payments to European governments.

In response, France, Britain and Spain sent naval forces to Veracruz, Mexico, demanding repayment. Britain and Spain negotiated with Mexico and withdrew their forces.

France, however, ruled by Napoleon III, decided to use the opportunity to carve an empire out of Mexican territory. Late in 1861, a well-armed French fleet stormed Veracruz, landing a large force of troops and driving President Juárez and his government into retreat.

The Battle of Puebla

Certain that success would come swiftly, 6,000 French troops under General Charles Latrille de Lorencez set out to attack Puebla de Los Angeles, a small town in east-central Mexico. From his new headquarters in the north, Juárez rounded up a ragtag force of 2,000 loyal men—many of them either Indigenous Mexicans or of mixed ancestry—and sent them to Puebla.

The vastly outnumbered and poorly supplied Mexicans, led by Texas-born General Ignacio Zaragoza, fortified the town and prepared for the French assault. On May 5, 1862, Lorencez gathered his army—supported by heavy artillery—before the city of Puebla and led an assault.

How Long Did the Battle of Puebla Last?

The battle lasted from daybreak to early evening, and when the French finally retreated they had lost nearly 500 soldiers. Fewer than 100 Mexicans had been killed in the clash.

Although not a major strategic win in the overall war against the French, Zaragoza’s success at the Battle of Puebla on May 5 represented a great symbolic victory for the Mexican government and bolstered the resistance movement. In 1867—thanks in part to military support and political pressure from the United States, which was finally in a position to aid its besieged neighbor after the end of the Civil War—France finally withdrew.

The same year, Austrian Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian, who had been installed as emperor of Mexico in 1864 by Napoleon, was captured and executed by Juárez’s forces. Puebla de Los Angeles was renamed for General Zaragoza, who died of typhoid fever months after his historic triumph there.

Cinco de Mayo in Mexico

Within Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is primarily observed in the state of Puebla, where Zaragoza’s unlikely victory occurred, although other parts of the country also take part in the celebration.

Traditions include military parades, recreations of the Battle of Puebla and other festive events. For many Mexicans, however, May 5 is a day like any other: It is not a federal holiday, so offices, banks and stores remain open.

Why Do We Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in the United States?

In the United States, Cinco de Mayo is widely interpreted as a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in areas with substantial Mexican-American populations.

Chicano activists raised awareness of the holiday in the 1960s, in part because they identified with the victory of Indigenous Mexicans (such as Juárez) over European invaders during the Battle of Puebla.

Today, revelers mark the occasion with parades, parties, mariachi music, Mexican folk dancing and traditional foods such as tacos and mole poblano. Some of the largest festivals are held in Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston.

Confusion With Mexican Independence Day

Many people outside Mexico mistakenly believe that Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of Mexican independence, which was declared more than 50 years before the Battle of Puebla.

Independence Day in Mexico (Día de la Independencia) is commemorated on September 16, the anniversary of the revolutionary priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla’s famous “Grito de Dolores” (“Cry of Dolores,” referring to the city of Dolores Hidalgo, Mexico), a call to arms that amounted to a declaration of war against the Spanish colonial government in 1810.

Cinco de Mayo 2024: Facts, Meaning & Celebrations | HISTORY (1)

The first great revolution of the 20th century began as a revolt against a dictator and ended in civil war, consuming hundreds of thousands of lives as Mexico struggled to live up to its ideals of land and liberty.

Cinco de Mayo 2024: Facts, Meaning & Celebrations | HISTORY (2024)

FAQs

Cinco de Mayo 2024: Facts, Meaning & Celebrations | HISTORY? ›

Celebrated annually on May 5, Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo (pronounced [ˈsiŋko ðe ˈmaʝo] in Mexico, Spanish for "Fifth of May") is a yearly celebration held on May 5 to celebrate Mexico's victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza.
https://en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Cinco_de_Mayo
recognizes Mexico's victory over the Second French Empire led by Napoleon III at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. The holiday has since become perhaps more popular in the U.S. than in Mexico and is often celebrated by people of Mexican American heritage.

What are the Cinco de Mayo celebrations really about? ›

Cinco de Mayo is the yearly celebration of Mexico's victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.

Why do Mexicans not celebrate Cinco de Mayo? ›

May 5 commemorates 1862 battle victory. On the fifth of May each year, Americans across the nation celebrate Cinco de Mayo -- a holiday often mistaken as Mexican Independence Day. Mexicans actually celebrate their independence on Sept. 16, and Cinco de Mayo is not a national holiday in Mexico.

How to celebrate 5 de mayo? ›

Cinco de Mayo is celebrated everywhere in the U.S, with parades, food, music, dancing, and drinking. Schools usually assign projects that promote Mexican culture to students while restaurants offer specials on various Mexican food. In Mexico, the celebrations are mostly ceremonial, such as military parades.

What are the symbols of Cinco de Mayo? ›

Symbols of Cinco de Mayo

Maracas is a symbol of supernatural beings and the spirit of the nation. – Taco is a symbol of Mexican cuisine. – Mariachi music symbolizes the national identity. – Sombrero hat is a national and cultural symbol of Mexico.

What is the short story of Cinco de Mayo? ›

Cinco de Mayo is a holiday that celebrates Mexico's victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. It's not really a popular holiday in Mexico, but in the United States it has become an important way to commemorate Mexican culture and heritage especially in Mexican-American populations.

Why was Mexico attacked on Cinco de Mayo? ›

At the time, the country was in financial ruin after years of internal strife, and the new president was forced to default on debt payments to European governments. In response, France, Britain and Spain sent naval forces to Veracruz, Mexico, demanding repayment.

What kind of food do you eat for Cinco de Mayo? ›

Cinco de Mayo Food Traditions For Your Party

There's something for everyone: Green Pozole with Chicken, Horchata, Guacamole, Cemita Poblana, Huevos Rancheros, Mexican Barbacoa, Enchiladas Verdes, Tostadas, Chile Verde Tamales, Fish Tacos, Flautas and more fantastic dishes.

Where do the largest 5 de Mayo celebrations take place? ›

LA's Fiesta Broadway is known for being the largest celebration of Cinco de Mayo in the world, held along Broadway in the city's Downtown area. There, you'll find live music, great Mexican food, and carnival rides, making it perfect for the whole family.

What not to do on Cinco de Mayo? ›

DON'T: Say that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico's Independence Day.

Besides the tame celebrations that take place in Puebla, you'll be hard-pressed to find anyone in Mexico celebrating Cinco de Mayo. Don't make generalizations that contribute to stereotypes.

What three colors are used to celebrate Cinco de Mayo? ›

Red, white, and green are the colors of the Mexican flag, as well as the colors worn on this day of celebration. Red represents the blood of the heroes that have died fighting, white stands for unity and purity, and green is for hope.

What is the true meaning of Cinco de Mayo? ›

Cinco de Mayo (pronounced [ˈsiŋko ðe ˈmaʝo] in Mexico, Spanish for "Fifth of May") is a yearly celebration held on May 5 to celebrate Mexico's victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza.

Is Cinco de Mayo religious? ›

Any national or cultural holiday is a good occasion to pray for one's country or cultural group. But in itself Cinco de Mayo has no more intrinsic religious significance than Independence Day, Flag Day or any other civic holiday.

What is the spiritual meaning of Cinco de Mayo? ›

Contrary to common misconception, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's Independence Day (which is celebrated on September 16). Instead, it signifies unity, pride, and the triumph of the underdog. While it is a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, the jubilant celebrations are a testament to the indomitable Mexican spirit.

What was France's excuse for invading Mexico? ›

1861-1867. The Second French intervention in Mexico began in December 1861, when Emperor Napoleon III invaded Mexico on the pretext that Mexico had refused to pay its foreign debt, though, in reality, the Emperor wanted to take advantage of the American Civil War to expand his empire in Latin-America.

What was the Chicano movement on Cinco de Mayo? ›

Cinco de Mayo gained popularity and became a symbol of empowerment during the Chicano Movement. It was widely celebrated in America by Mexican and Hispanic Americans during this movement and was linked to the Battle of Puebla.

Who did Mexico gain independence from? ›

When Mexico achieved its independence from Spain in 1821, it included most of the viceroyalty of New Spain, minus the Caribbean and the Philippines.

What do you say on Cinco de Mayo? ›

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

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