Today is the fifth day of May, also known as Cinco de Mayo. Most people think this day is just another day where they can down cervesas, drink tequila and celebrate Mexican Independence Day. That’s where you go wrong.
In fact, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day and it’s not even technically an American holiday (not saying that it shouldn’t be).
Cinco de Mayo is Spanish for “fifth of May” and is a holiday in Mexico. The holiday commemorates the Mexican army’s defeat of the French at the Battle of Puebla (La Batalla de Puebla) on May 5, 1862. The Mexican army was greatly outnumbered by the French army which hadn’t been defeated for nearly 50 years. This was a great accomplishment.
Cinco de Mayo actually has very little significance in Mexico and is more widely celebrated in the United States and other countries. It is a day for Mexican heritage and pride, but it is not Mexican Independence Day. Mexican Independence Day is September 16, which is the most patriotic holiday in Mexico.
Mexico declared its independence from Spain at midnight on September 15, 1810. Then, it took 11 years before the first Spanish soldiers actually forced to leave Mexico. Mexico achieved its official independence from Spanish rule in 1821 (not on the fifth of May).
In the United States, Cinco de Mayo celebration has overwhelmed that of Mexico’s. It is mostly recognized as a day to celebrate the culture of Mexican Ancestry much like St. Patrick ’s Day or Oktoberfest is to celebrate the Irish and German heritages.
So, go celebrate – drink some cheap Mexican beer, eat some chips and salsa, but do so knowing what Cinco de Mayo really is all about. And what it’s not.
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