You might think of Cinco de Mayo as a day to have a good time eating tacos, drinking tequila, and celebrating Mexican independence. But the Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo isn’t about celebrating el Día de la Independencia (independence day) at all. So what is Cinco de Mayo? It’s a day to celebrate a battle won in the war against the French near the city of Puebla in 1862.
Now that we’ve debunked the biggest myth about one of Mexico’s holidays, you’re ready to uncover the real history behind Cinco de Mayo and find out that this holiday actually isn’t as popular in Mexico as the United States. And you’ll discover how you can join or host your own authentic Cinco de Mayo celebrations!
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What is Cinco de Mayo? The real history explained
If you’re familiar with Spanish numbers and months of the year, you know that Cinco de Mayo means the Fifth of May, but that isn’t Mexico’s independence day (which is regarded as September 16, 1810). On May 5, many Mexicans remember the Batalla de Puebla (Battle of Puebla) fought against the French in 1862. This war with France happened after the Mexican-American War where much of the southwestern United States was ceded to the US government.
How did Mexico end up in a war with France? Decades after Mexico’s declaration of independence from Spain in 1821, France briefly invaded Mexico with Spain and England to reclaim debts. These debts couldn’t be repaid due to the cost of the internal Reform War as Mexicans worked to form a new government among opposing factions.
Then-President Benito Juárez announced that payments would be on hold for two years. In response, Spain, France, and Britain sent ships to the port city of Veracruz. Mexico negotiated a deal with Spain and Britain, but France remained in Mexico and advanced toward Mexico City in hopes of gaining power while the US was distracted with their own Civil War.
To everyone’s surprise, the woefully outnumbered mestizos and Zapotec forces under General Ignacio Zaragoza defeated the better-prepared and well-armed French soldiers during the Battle of Puebla. Though it would be another four years before the French were completely defeated in Mexico, Cinco de Mayo celebrates the underdog victory in 1862.
How is Cinco de Mayo celebrated in Mexico?
Understanding the answer to “What is Cinco de Mayo?” means realizing that it’s not all about tequila and tacos in Mexico. Cinco de Mayo is definitely celebrated in Mexico, yet compared to other Mexican holidays, it’s relatively tame. You’ll often find businesses closed on unofficial holidays like Candelaria, but banks always stay open on Cinco de Mayo.
You’ll find the biggest celebrations happening in Puebla for obvious reasons. Along with an elaborate parade that the sitting president of Mexico attends, about a hundred people reenact the Batalla de Puebla at the original location every year. The Cinco de Mayo celebrations actually start a month before May 5th. If you visit, you’ll experience concerts, fireworks, military parades, and traditional dancers called chinas Poblanas around the city.
Instead of tequila, locals drink their own alcoholic drink called pulque, so be sure to ask for that if you want to blend in. You can also join in the shouts of ¡Viva el 5 de Mayo!, which is more correct than finding a way to say “happy Cinco de Mayo” as we would in English.
Elsewhere in Mexico, the celebrations tend to be more reserved. Children might have a special history lesson at school, and individual cities like Mexico City may hold a civic ceremony or a military parade, which sometimes involve small reenactments of the battle. Civic ceremonies often include a live band, speeches, folkloric dance, and regional costumes.
Why is Cinco de Mayo celebrated in the United States?
There are more Cinco de Mayo festivities in the United States than Mexico, and they’ve become a way to celebrate and recognize Mexican-American culture. There was a concerted effort among Mexican-American communities to remind their immigrant families of their heritage. The origins were confused by many people in the US who think it’s Mexican Independence Day, but that’s observed on September 16.
The heritages and cultures of Mexico and the US have long been intertwined, largely due to the geographical proximity and amount of immigrants living in the United States. In the 1960s, Mexican activists pushed for national understanding of what Mexicans contribute as citizens.
One example is that they introduced delicious cuisine and drinks to the melting pot culture of the US. Anything food-related tends to get commercialized quickly in the States, so in the 80s, Cinco de Mayo became a commercialized holiday in the 80s for enjoying good food and drinks.
How the US celebrates Cinco de Mayo
Many major cities and cultural organizations in the US sponsor Cinco de Mayo celebrations like you’ll find in Puebla, Mexico with live mariachi music or folk dancing in bright costumes and parades. What you won’t find are reenactments of the battle since that’s a regional celebration.
Although cities like Chicago, Minneapolis, and San Antonio also have Cinco de Mayo festivals, we’ve highlighted some of the biggest and best here.
Cinco de Mayo in Los Angeles
Los Angeles’s festival is known as Fiesta Broadway and is considered the biggest Cinco de Mayo celebration in the world. With mariachi bands, Latino musical súper estrellas (superstars), and Mexican food galore, this festival is fun for locals, visitors, and Mexicans alike.
Cinco de Mayo in Denver
This mountainous city holds a big event for Cinco de Mayo that includes street food, live music, and the famous Green Chili Bowl Cookoff. An important dish of the southwest, green chili is a spicy dish of beef or chicken and green salsa, often made with New Mexican hatch chili.
Cinco de Mayo in San Diego
San Diego’s Cinco de Mayo celebration lasts a full three days. You can join the festivities in the historic Old Town neighborhood where you can hear live music, watch Baile Folklórico (folkloric dance), eat to your heart’s content, and drink some unforgettable Mexican cocktails.
Traditional Cinco de Mayo food to try
Go beyond burritos and tacos with authentic or traditional Cinco de Mayo foods. You can learn to cook some authentic Mexican cuisine, known to be so rich and complex it’s been recognized by UNESCO. While there are no foods specific to Cinco de Mayo celebrations, a great place to start is with food from Puebla where the battle took place. You can easily find recipes online for delicious poblano (Pueblan) foods listed below.
Pipián
Pipián is an exquisite sauce made of roasted pumpkin seeds called pepitas. These are then blended with tomatillos, chilis, spices, and a little chicken broth. The sauce is served over chicken with a side of white rice. You can also use it to make enchiladas.
Mole poblano
There are many kinds of mole in Mexico, but the poblanos (the name of people from Puebla) lay claim to its invention—or so they say. This rich sauce is served much like pipián, and starts with chilis, nuts, seeds, and spices before melted bittersweet chocolate is added. Often, a touch of thickener like bread and ground raisins could be included but that’s up to each individual chef.
Mole de caderas
More than a sauce, mole de caderas is a rich goat stew cooked in a base of tomatoes or tomatillos with three kinds of chilis and delicate flavorings. You’ll also find avocado tree leaves and guajes (a pod that grows on trees in Mexico) as part of the recipe. You may need to find a Latin market in a large city to buy some of the ingredients for this recipe or look online.
Spanish phrases to use during Cinco de Mayo celebrations
To really get in the Cinco de Mayo mood, practice a few of these Spanish phrases before meeting your friends. They’ll be just as impressed with your Spanish as they are with your food. And be sure to use the Spanish upside-down exclamation mark if you’re printing out any fun decorations or invitations!
- Pasa el tequila. = Pass the tequila.
- ¡Viva México! = Long Live Mexico!
- ¡Viva Puebla! = Long Live Puebla!
- ¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo! = Happy Cinco de Mayo!
- El Cinco de Mayo celebra la Batalla de Puebla de 1862 (mil ochocientos sesenta y seis). = Cinco de Mayo celebrates the Battle of Puebla in 1862.
- ¿Dónde está el desfile? = Where’s the parade?
- ¿Quieres probar el mole? = Do you want to try the mole?
FAQ about Cinco de Mayo
If you’re looking for some quick answers to frequently asked questions about Cinco de Mayo, you’ve found them!
What does Cinco de Mayo mean?
Cinco de Mayo means the 5th of May, which was the day of the 1862 Battle of Puebla.
Is Cinco de Mayo the same as Mexico’s independence day?
No, Cinco de Mayo is not independence day in Mexico. September 16 is Mexico’s national day to celebrate independence from Spain, but the Cinco de Mayo history is about the victory over the French during a battle near Puebla in 1862.
Why do we celebrate Cinco de Mayo?
In the United States, we celebrate Cinco de Mayo thanks to the awareness brought to the Mexican immigrants living in the United States during the 1960s. Though the holiday is very commercialized now, it’s a fun time to gather with friends and enjoy delicious Mexican food and drinks.
What are some Cinco de Mayo traditions?
If you’re in Puebla, Mexico, you’ll find the most authentic traditions happening to honor the battle of Puebla on Cinco de Mayo. For a month before the 5th of May, concerts, fireworks, military parades, and festivals happen all around town.
Other cities in Mexico might have smaller celebrations for Cinco de Mayo or none at all. It’s not a national holiday, so any celebrations tend to be in larger cities.
If you’re in the United States, you might find local celebrations happening nearby on May 5th. Many Mexican-American immigrants celebrate their heritage on this day since it’s become a popular, unofficial holiday in America. Cities like San Diego and San Antonio will hold large festivals where parades, traditional dancing, and lots of food can be enjoyed. Friends and family of many ethnicities often gather to hold their own parties to eat Mexican food and drinks.
What is Cinco de Mayo food?
There are no widely known traditional Cinco de Mayo foods, but the locals in Puebla have their own dishes that they prepare such as pipián, mole, or mole de caderas. In the US, people often eat tacos, burritos, nachos, birria, or enchiladas with carne asada or al pastor.
A traditional Cinco de Mayo drink in the US is tequila, but it’s not widely used in Mexico. Instead, Pueblans drink pulque, which is made from fermented agave. You might be able to find it in a local Mexican market.
Is there traditional Cinco de Mayo clothing?
Locals in Puebla (poblanos) often dress up in traditional Mexican clothing, especially if they are performing. Female dancers wear dresses made in the colors of the Mexican flag and male performers and singers wear decorative outfits and sombreros or other Mexican hats. You’ll see the same at Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the United States, but people rarely dress up when hosting their own party at home.
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