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Cinco de Mayo is often confused with Mexican Independence Day, and is seen as a ‘Mexican’ holiday in the United States. However, Cinco de Mayo is neither Mexican Independence Day nor an official holiday in Mexico. Clearly there are some misconceptions about Cinco de Mayo, but to learn more about why that is, we need to dig a little deeper into what Cinco de Mayo is really about.
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Cinco de Mayo, which translates to “Fifth of May” in English, is a national holiday here in the United States. The holiday is commonly celebrated by throwing parties, parades, and indulging in traditional Mexican food, music, and dance. Here in America, we often confuse this holiday with Mexican Independence day, but the truth is that Mexican independence was declared more than 50 years before the event that marks Cinco de Mayo.
The real battle that initiated the celebration of Cinco de Mayo was the Battle of Puebla. Following the election of Benito Juárez for president of Mexico, which was then suffering economically and socially, Mexico was unable to repay debts to several European governments. Due to this failure to repay, naval forces from France, Britain, and Spain docked at Veracruz in Mexico. After negotiation, Britain and Spain withdrew their naval forces, but France saw an opportunity.
In late 1861, an armed French fleet stormed Veracruz, forcing President Juárez and his government to retreat. The French, certain of success, began an attack on the small east-central town of Puebla de Los Angeles. Juárez responded by gathering 2,000 loyal men and sending them to Puebla. The Mexicans, who had arrived first, fortified Puebla and prepared for the French to attack. Finally, on May 5, 1862, the French began their attack on the town of Puebla.
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The battle lasted less than a day, ending with the French retreating after a 500-casualty loss. The Mexicans, on the other hand, had suffered fewer than 100 casualties. While the Battle of Puebla was not the most notable victory in the overall war against the French, it caused the resistance movement to grow. France would withdraw completely from Mexico in 1867 following mounting political pressure and Mexican support from the United States.
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So, why do we celebrate this holiday so passionately in the United States? Cinco de Mayo is seen by many as a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, especially in areas populated by a large number of Mexican-Americans. And though Cinco de Mayo is not a federal holiday in Mexico, it is still celebrated in the state of Puebla just as proudly as it is in the United States in celebration of Mexican resilience.
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