Cinco De Mayo – Fun Facts
May 5th is Cinco De Mayo! America’s favorite holiday to celebrate because it really doesn’t have much to do with us except for guacamole and Coronas! Often confused with Mexican Independence Day, Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Mexican Army’s victory at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War in 1862.
Mexico actually declared its independence 50 years earlier, but Americans will celebrate anyway since it’s a great excuse to sip on a margarita and wear that sombrero that’s been hiding in your closet since last year!
Cinco de Mayo is actually a fairly minor holiday in Mexico. Celebrations are usually limited to the Puebla region and consist mostly of military parades. For Mexican-Americans living in the United States, it is a different matter. Over the years, Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a huge festival that celebrates Mexican culture and heritage. People mark the occasion with elaborate family feasts, parties, mariachi music, and traditional folk dancing.