Guide Note

Cinco de Mayo is Spanish for the "5th of May". It is a popular Mexican holiday that is celebrated primarily in the United States.

The day is marked with Cinco de Mayo food, dancing and music.

Fast Facts

1. Held: May 5
2. Anniversary of the Battle of Puebla
3. Celebrated in the US since 1967
4. Largest Celebration: Festival de Fiesta Broadway in Los Angeles, California, with over 600,000 attendees
5. General Zaragosa is a Chicano hero, having been born in Texas

Cinco de Mayo is often confused with Mexican Independence Day, which is on September 16. It commemorates a battle that took place between the Mexicans and the French in 1862 when a small Mexican force of around 4,500 men defeated a professional army of 8,000 of Napoleon's soldiers.

The battle, known as the Battle of Puebla, lasted for 4 hours. The Mexican forces were led by General Ignacio Zaragosa. In addition to being a source of national pride for Mexico, the battle is significant because it was the last time any foreign government attacked territory in North America.

Additionally, if France had not been defeated at the Battle of Puebla, it would have been in a position to aid the South during the U.S. Civil War, potentially influencing the outcome.

Reportedly, the holiday was first observed in the United States in 1967 when a group of California State University students, concerned because there was no Chicano holiday, decided to observe Cinco de Mayo.

They were endeavoring to get the university to begin a Chicano studies program, and thought that holding a Cinco de Mayo celebration would help their efforts.

Cinco de Mayo is one of over 300 Mexican festivals. It is not a major holiday, and is not widely observed in Mexico. It is, however, celebrated in Puebla, the site of the 1862 battle. There, about 100 miles from Mexico City, it is commemorated with a parade, a recreation of the battle, and festivals and fiestas, with food, drink, music, and games.