History of Cinco de Mayo and what to know before the celebration
(FOX40.COM) — Cinco de Mayo is a popular Mexican holiday, with celebrations throughout the United States and Mexico.
Video Above: 5 things to know about Cinco de Mayo
Often confused for Mexican Independence Day, Cinco de Mayo instead marks the 1862 victory of the Mexican Army over the French Army.
As many grab their sombreros and prepare to take shots of tequila, it is important to take a moment and learn about the significance of Cinco de Mayo and what it means before the celebrations commence.
Then-newly elected Mexican President and member of the Zapotec tribe, Benito Juarez, was forced to default on debt payments to European governments due to financial ruin in 1861, according to History.com.
Naval forces from France, Britain and Spain were sent to Veracruz, Mexico. While Mexico was able to negotiate with Spain and Britain, resulting in the withdrawal of their forces, France grasped the opportunity to take Mexican territory.
While France sent out 6,000 French troops to attack Puebla de Los Angeles in Mexico, Jaurez was able to gather around 2,000 men to defend the territory, sources said.
Nearly 500 French soldiers died and fewer than 100 Mexican soldiers were killed in the May 5, 1862, battle that lasted from daybreak to early evening.
Political pressure from the United States and military support encouraged France to withdraw from Mexico in 1867 after the Civil War.
Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Director of the Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, David Hayes-Bautista, published a book in 2012 titled 'El Cinco de Mayo: An American Tradition,' which illustrates the history of the Mexican holiday.
During a conversation with FOX40, Hayes-Bautista highlighted the connection between the celebration of the holiday and the United States, stating that as Latinos in California watched the fight for rights during the Civil War, they found pride in their community gaining victory over the French.
'So once Latinos heard [of the victory of Cinco de Mayo], they immediately, spontaneously piled out into the streets of California, Nevada and Oregon to celebrate this great victory and let the world know where they stood on the issues of the American Civil War and the French intervention,' said Hayes-Bautista. 'That they opposed slavery, they supported freedom, they opposed white supremacy, they supported racial equality, they opposed elitist plantation rule, they supported government of the people, by the people and for the people.'
The professor then said that the holiday has been celebrated in the United States since then.
The Jackson County Library Services also states that the holiday was significant for activists who participated in the Chicano Movement in the 1950s and 1970s, as it was found to be a powerful symbol of Mexican resistance and power.
One of the most common misconceptions about Cinco de Mayo is that it is the Independence Day for Mexico, according to multiple sources, including Professor Hayes-Bautista.
While May 5 represents the victory the Mexican army had over the French Army, September 16 is the true Mexican Independence Day, as many celebrate the nation's freedom from Spanish rule, History.com stated.
Meanwhile, Hayes-Bautista highlighted another difference between the two commemorations.
'…After California became part of the U.S, the Mexican Consulate ran [Mexican] Independence Day and they do to this day,' Said Hayes-Bautista. 'Cinco de Mayo does not belong to the Mexican Consulate. It has been since the very first, kind of a people's holiday. Nobody owned it. So you can do whatever you want.'
Establishing that Cinco de Mayo could be considered a holiday represented by Mexican-Americans and Chicanos throughout the U.S., Hayes-Bautista also mentioned that past celebrations included the combination of the U.S and Mexican military hymns and flags.
Celebrations in Mexico are somewhat similar to those in the United States, as many like to attend events including parades, lucha libre matches and eat traditional Mexican dishes, according to Britannica.
Some of these events feature mariachi bands, dancers in traditional Mexican clothing and floats decorated with red, white and green, the colors of the Mexican flag.
Meanwhile, some specialty meals most commonly eaten are tacos, guacamole, churros and Puebla's well-known dish, mole poblano.
According to History.com, May 5 in Mexico is not considered a federal holiday; therefore, offices, banks and stores remain open.
As communities throughout the nation celebrate the Mexican holiday, Professor Hayes-Bautista left a reminder for those who plan to participate.
'Unfortunately, over about the past 40 or so years, Cinco de Mayo has devolved into Drinko de Mayo, which is the time to go get drunk,' said Hayes-Bautista. 'I'd like people to remember, okay, we're going to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, but remember it has to do about human rights in its very beginning; about freedom versus slavery, equality versus white supremacy. Just remember that and let's go ahead and have a party.'
El Cinco de Mayo: An American Tradition by David Hayes-Bautista can be found on the University of California Press website.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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