Cinco de Mayo: 3 things to know about the holiday
Find out why people celebrate Cinco de Mayo
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Your support makes all the difference.Cinco de Mayo is here. A day full of tequila and tacos has come again.
But despite widespread recognition of the holiday in the US, surprisingly few people know why it exists. No, it’s not Mexican Independence Day. That is 16 September.
Here are three things to know about one of the more fun American holidays:
What is Cinco de Mayo?
In the 1860s, Napoleon III decided he wanted to get back the some of the land his well-known uncle sold to the US in the Louisiana Purchase, starting with Mexico. So he sent a military commander to conquer Mexico.
But on 5 May, 1862 a rag-tag Mexican army held off French forces in the city of Puebla, a shocking victory. Though Puebla would later fall, the memory of the triumph of Cinco de Mayo, 1862 has stood the test of time.
Why does the US care?
Had the French been able to take Mexico earlier, historians believe they would have jumped into the US Civil War on the side of the Confederacy and that may have been enough to run the tide of the war.
A Confederate victory would have drastically changed the past 150 years of American – and quite possibly world – history.
How is it celebrated?
Cinco de Mayo is way bigger in the US than in Mexico. Mexican celebrations typically are held in and around Puebla and it is known as El Dia de la Batalla de Puebla, or Battle of Puebla Day.
In the US, Cinco de Mayo brings everything from parades and celebrations of Mexican culture and heritage, to bar crawls, massive amounts of margaritas, Chihuahua races and Mexican food specials.
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