Why does Mexico celebrate May 5th?

Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for "fifth of May") is a celebration held on May 5. It is celebrated in the United States and in Mexico, primarily in the state of Puebla, where the holiday is called El Día de la Batalla de Puebla (English: The Day of the Battle of Puebla). Mexican Americans also often see the day as a source of pride; one way they can honor their ethnicity is to celebrate this day.

The date is observed to commemorate the Mexican army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín. In the United States, Cinco de Mayo is sometimes mistaken to be Mexico's Independence Day - the most important national holiday in Mexico - which is celebrated on September 16.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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25 Comments

M. Baker

Celebrated much more in the USA than in Mexico.

Nancy Chisholm

Founding not foundind....or so I have been lead to believe.

Enrique Eugenio

Actually Mexican do not celebrate 5 de Mayo is remembered as historical event and in Puebla it is remembered but that all. Beer companies in the USA developed the propaganda because sell was down in a dangerous proportions.

Scott

American day to celebrate, we celebrate any chance we get, There is nothing that has ever happened in Mexico history that is cause to celebrate. Other than their border is shared with the most affluent and celebrated democracy in the World…Come on man..

Lisa Rodrigues

Irene Townsend, The Day of the Dead (Spanish: Día de Muertos or Día de los Muertos) is a Mexican holiday celebrated in Mexico and elsewhere associated with the Catholic celebrations of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, and is held on November 1 and 2.

Fleuriefirst

My Mexican daughter in law says it’s not! It’s a U.S. thing

Chrissie

Matthew Roen, or 2 November - All Souls' Day?

Matthew Roen

Irene Townsend, isn't that Nov 1st? All Saint's Day?

Irene Townsend

Actually thought it was the celebration of the Day of the Dead that I'd heard about. Or is that just a myth

Helga U. Williams

Most Americans think it is Mexico's St. Patrick's Day LOL.....just drink and be merry! No questions asked. 😊

Larry Hughes

Not really a fan of stinky Mayo myself.

Carroll Price

To celebrate the Mexican navy sinking an enemy ship filled with Mayonaise.

Howard Groopman

Too many people still think it's independence day, but it's actually the celebration of a military victory over France.

Sean Case

M. Baker, that's because in Mexico a 1 day battle was not seen as a great victory, according to a former supervisor of mine who was born & raised in Mexico!