Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo:
Cinco de Mayo is observed every year on May 5 to commemorate the Mexico’s victory at Battle of Puebla.
| Year | Date | Day | Where |
| 2023 | 5th May | Friday | United States |
| 2023 | 5th May | Sunday | United States |
| 2025 | 5th May | Monday | United States |
Twitter Hashtags:
#CincodeMayo
Related: Other National Days Celebrated on May 5th:
Why Cinco de Mayo?
The Battle of Puebla, a revolutionary war took place on 5 May 1862 against the French invasion/intervention in Mexico. With over 600 men from Mexican army led by the General Ignacio Zaragoza won a mighty army of 6500 soldiers from Second French Empire. Though the French defecated the Mexicans in subsequent wars, Battle of Puebala is considered as an historic win as overrunning a better equipped and larger French Army was not easy win. Thus the Mexicans celebrate this day on annual basis right from the year 1862.
The celebrations are on par in United States as it’s been a part of Mexican-American Culture as because Mexican’s ancestry contributes around 11% of the United States Population. The wine company to surge its products, contributed a lot by means of Advertisements. It is estimated that the sales of beer and tequila is almost equal as like “Super Bowl” Celebrations.
Initially first celebrated only in some parts of the Mexico, In the United States, the celebrations have evolved to one of the famous national day Cinco de Mayo, that applauds the Mexican heritage in the U.S.
This is the day where Mexicans tried to throw the puppet French-influenced regime in Mexico. And the United States which is the home to the second-largest Mexican community in the world followed second by Mexico itself, celebrates Cinco de Mayo.
How can we observe Cinco de Mayo?
Read History: The celebrations lives only if it is passed to the next generations. It should be known first to celebrate. It is estimated that around 50% of the Americans wrongly believes that Cinco de Mayo is the Mexican Independence Day. Both are different. Cinco de Mayo is associated with the French intervention in Mexico 1862. Read about the battle of Puebala and the significance in American and Mexican Culture. Share the facts about this Mexican revolution through #CincodeMayo.
Patriotism Poetry: If you do write poems, contribute your poetry through hashtags #CincodemayoCelebrations. Patriotism always, also thrived through poems.
Commemorate the soldiers: Commemorate the soldiers who died because of French Intervention. Gather the soldiers’ descendants if you know or heard and enjoy the celebrations. Visit your Mexican friends and host an event.
Join the Event: Even in the white house, the government host several theme-based events and reenactments to tribute the historic Cinco de Mayo. Involve or visit and enjoy the colorful celebrations.
Visit a Mexican Pub: Several Mexican pubs in the United States will be open at night to organize the parties. Visit those pubs and enjoy your day! Around one in ten Americans considers this day to be chance for a drink. You can also enjoy a beer with someone who knows the history about this day. Drink and through your parties, get some information.
Interesting facts about Cinco de Mayo:
- The term Cinco de Mayo means “Fifth of May” in Spanish.
- Every year, Cinco de Mayo generates beer sales on par with the Super Bowl, annual Championship game of National Football league.
- The First ever celebrations in the United States held on California in 1863.
- It was celebrated mostly in California till 1980. And by the early 1980, it was beer factories who advertised this day and attracted most of the cities with large populated Mexican-Americans.
- In 1998, It was celebrated in 120 places officially in U.S
- In 2005, around in 150 places, Cinco de Mayo is officially celebrated
- In 2005, The then president passed a concurrent resolution to officially celebrate this day at schools to empathize the historic significances.
- In accordance with a nielson report of 2013, it is estimated that $600 million worth of beer is purchased on this day surpassing the super bowl or St.patrick’s Day.
Facts surrounding the history of Cinco de Mayo:
- Spain, Britain and France try to attack Mexico first but knowing the France intention of regime, Spain and Britain withdraw forces and marched backwards.
- t was the first ever defeat for French soldiers in over 50 years.
- The Generals were Ignacio Zaragoza and Porfirio Díaz, the latter went on to become the president of Mexico in later years.
- It was also documented that Porfirio Diaz, who led half of the Mexican soldiers repel the French soldiers by violating the General Zaragoza order.
- After neglecting several offers from President Benito Juárez, Emperor Maximilian, Marshal Bazaine throughout his life as a military officer, Porfirio Diaz went on to win the final battle of Puebala and hailed as a National Hero.
- A total of 4500 Mexicans were deployed with a crew of 600 men led by Ignacio Zaragoza. The French were totally 6000 to 8000 in numbers. Mexican forces are not equipped where as the French army is well trained and equipped.
- Ignacio Zaragoza died after the battle from illness that eventually led the French troops to win the Second battle of Puebala.
Battles of Puebala:
Puebala was the City in Colonial Mexico.
Foundation of Puebala: Lets know about some interesting facts about the foundation of Puebala, the City which was one used as a Flower wars, the soldiers are captured and killed in the name of sacrifice rituals.
After used as a Flower war till the pre-Columbian era, in 1530, Julián Garcés, a bishop of Tlaxcala sent a letter to the then Spanish Queen about the need of a city as a settlement. The bishop had a dream of building a city and in his dreams, he saw a beautiful scenery with valleys of wood, meadows and clean water and a group of angels from heaven tracing out to this place. That’s how, Puebla de los Ángeles nicknamed “City of Angels” was founded. But both the Spanish queen and the Bishop never knew that This city is going to be the “City of Battles”.
Battle of puebala : 5 May 1862 -Mexican army defeated the French Troops.
Was an inspirational war to the Mexicans, when the whole world awaits French victory, the Mexicans led by Zaragoza shocked the whole world by winning. He died within months due to the illness he got aftermath the battle.
Second Battle of Puebla on 17 May 1863 – French Army Won Mexican Army
The whole world is shocked to see this loss that cornered Napoleon III to win the battle at any cost. He was keen in settling up a puppet regime with Maximilian as he thought French colonist at Mexico with help his future endeavors. He reinforced the armies, added additional soldiers. And now with about 30000 soldiers, The French marched towards after capturing Mexico City that had led to the downfall of President Juarez. But the puppet second Mexican Regime was the short live done as the United States intervened as was well enough to support Juarez.
Third Battle of Puebala on April 2, 1867 – Between Mexican Republicans and Mexican Empire
Otherwise called as Battle of 2 de Abril, the war was between Mexican Republicans and the Mexican Empire, French installed empire. The commanders were Porfirio Díaz and Gen. Manuel Noriega with each around 6000 Soldiers. Porfirio Diaz captured the entire city and as he doesn’t want any further blood sheds, He ordered all the soldiers not be executed but releasing them after a Signed promise. This had greatly affected the casualties.
He said,
“The executions (at Puebla) caused me a painful impression, and since then I decided to stop them”
But this had caused a great distress to Diaz as his relationship with President Juarez is further declined because of his decision.
Finally, The Mexican Republic take over the country with the help of United States and Maximillian’s Mexican Empire is destroyed with his execution. The Naepolean III ordered to withdraw the French Troops from Mexico.
History of Cinco de Mayo:
In 1862, Battle of Puebala took place in the city Puebala, to rebel against the French intervention in Mexico. General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín was in charge of the troop. When the world presumed that Mexico will be overrun by the French forces. He let the army with a mere 600 soldiers and marched against to win the 6500 soldiers of French army. With this, the aim to establish a regime at Mexico was thwarted by the battle of Puebala.
Prior to this, the General led the army once on April 1862 but was forced to withdraw because of superior forces led by Napoleon III. And it was all started in 1861 when the well-armed French fleet landed at Veracruz to threaten and make a retreat with the then President Juárez. Due to the previous war, the government was already in chaos as the Mexican treasury went bankrupted. Because of this the president had to suspend foreign debt payments for 2 years. France, Britain and Spain demanded by reimbursement by subsequently Spain and Britain withdrew from venecruz ,However, Napoleon III decided to install Emperor Maximilian I as the ruler of Mexico using this opportunity. He strongly believed that his favored successor would benefit him by establishing a French regime in Mexico. Thus, his army led by 6500 to 8000 soldiers attacked the poor equipped Mexican military. Too much surprise, the Mexicans defecated the French Armies instilling national Unity and patriotism on people of Mexico. This historic win was not an easy one and celebrations sparked on every corner of Puebala. The entire country started celebrating in indecisive win and that shocked the Napoleon himself.
The entire celebration is short lived as the French troops with additional soldiers were able to defeat the Mexican army within the year. President Juarez is thrown out and Emperor Maximilian is crowned as the president of Mexico. The French victory is short lived as well. At The end of American Civil war, The U.S Provides force to expel the French troops and after three years, Maximilian apprehended and executed. Finally, the Mexico City was recaptured and Juarez formed a new administration.
Though Mexico had seen several wars Mexican–American War and the 1858–61 Reform War, This Cinco de Mayo/battle of Puebala is an significant rebellion in Mexican History as the small Mexican troop outnumbered the large equipped French Army which has not been defeated for over 5 decades. This historic victory is the prominent reason it is celebrated over time, till now! Secondly, the war provided a moral booster to all the Mexicans so that they can withstand with national Unity.
In May 9, 1862, President Juárez proclaimed that the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla would be observed as a national holiday regarded as “Battle of Puebla Day” or “Battle of Cinco de Mayo”. In the United States, the celebrations first started in California by 1863. The Mexican miners at Columbia were overjoyed to hear about the celebrations and themselves sang patriotic songs and made unrehearsed speeches.
The holiday then crossed California and spread to other states but did not regain any popularity till 1980. It was the market beer company moguls who began to promote the day to gain a sale up in beer. The cities like Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, New York, Cleveland, Boston, Indianapolis, Raleigh, Dallas, San Antonio, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Miami, Orlando, Denver, Phoenix, Philadelphia, Tucson, San Francisco, San Jose, and San Diego that includes a consistent amount of Mexican Americans spread this day by enjoying beer, singing impromptu patriotic songs.
By 1998, it was officially celebrated in 120 places in the United States and by the year 2005 , the then president proclaimed a national observance for Cinco de Mayo throughout the Country.
Not to be confused with Mexico’s Independence Day as it was celebrated on Every September 6, to mark the “Cry Of Dolores” when a catholic priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla called for military rebellion that triggered the Mexicans war of Independence.
Apart from Mexico and the United States, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in Canada, South Africa, Caribbean, New Zealand, England, France, Japan etc.
