Cinco De Mayo History: Not Just Mariachi And Mexican Recipes

by NowPublic Staff | May 3, 2010 at 09:30 am

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Cinco De Mayo: A celebration of Mexican and Chicano Heritage

Cinco De Mayo Background and History

Cinco De Mayo means the fifth of May in Spanish. In Mexico, Cinco De May is primarily a regional holiday observed in the region of Puebla. Cinco De Mayo is in fact more widespread in the United States where it was popularized. Cinco De May is not to be confused with Mexican Independence Day which occurs on September 16th.

The history of Cinco De Mayo dates back to the time after the Mexican-American War of 1846-48, when the French occupied parts of Mexico. At the time Mexico had been wrecked economically by the wars, virtually bankrupt.

On July 17, 1861, President Benito Juarez issued a moratorium in which all foreign debt payments would be suspended for a brief period of two years, with the promise that after this period, payments would resume. The English, Spanish and French refused to allow president Juarez to do this, and instead decided to invade Mexico and get payments by whatever means necessary.

Ultimately the English and Spanish left withdrew their forces but the French did not, the conflict culminating in a decisive battle on the Fifth of May or Cinco De Mayo.

The holiday commemorates the Mexican army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín...The Battle of Puebla was important for at least two reasons. First, although considerably outnumbered, the Mexicans defeated a much better-equipped French army. "This battle was significant in that the 4,000 Mexican soldiers were greatly outnumbered by the well-equipped French army of 8,000 that had not been defeated for almost 50 years.

Cinco De Mayo Celebration: Parades, Mexican Recipes Food

Cinco De Mayo, Mexican Recipes

Though an important historic moment Cinco De May which honors the memory of The Battle of Pueblo is far less significant than Mexican Independence Day. But in the United States it has evolved into a celebration of those Americans who have Mexican ancestry with all the typical trappings of a holiday - parades, parties, mariachi bands, food, great Mexican food.