History of Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo is celebrated on May 5 along the Mexican-American border and in many regions of the United States where there is a significant Mexican population. Contrary to popular belief, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day. Mexican Independence Day is September 16.

I am embarrassed to admit that I did not know this because my husband of several decades is of Mexican descent born here in Texas. He is a third generation Texan. Both my husband’s parents and one of his grandmother’s were born in Texas, but that is no excuse for not knowing about the history of Cinco de Mayo.

Cinco de Mayo is the commemoration of the Battle of Puebla that took place at a small village in Mexico in 1862. The French invaded Mexico with a well armed and well trained group of soldiers that numbered 6,500. The Mexican defenders of the country were a poorly trained group that numbered 4,500 and were led by General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin. Although this was a little known battle, it was important for the morale of the people who were badly in need of unity during this period of invasion and chaotic unrest.

The economy of Mexico had been damaged after the Mexican-American war that took place between 1846 and 1848, as well as the Mexican Civil War that took place in 1858. The victory at the Battle of Puebla gave the Mexican people the courage to continue their fight. Although they eventually lost the war to the Archduke Maximilian of Austria, who was a cousin of Napoleon III of France. Maximilian managed to rule for three years before being overthrown when the American government offered assistance to the Mexican rebellion. He was executed at the end of the war. His shirt with the bullet holes is kept on display at a museum at Chapultepec Castle in Mexico City.

Today the Mexican Cinco de Mayo celebration takes place in the State of Puebla where it is a large festival. In the regional areas of the United States it has become a cultural celebration of Mexican food, dance, and music. It is common to see cars flying the Mexican flag during the week before and after Cinco de Mayo.