Cinco de Mayo 2024: Its history and why it's celebrated across the Americas
Cinco de Mayo is just around the corner.
As May 5th approaches, you might be wondering where the festive Mexican holiday came from and why it's celebrated across the Americas. But still, there is some confusion about what Cinco de Mayo is and what it means.
Some wrongly believe it celebrates Mexican independence day. Others, probably your favorite beer company, thinks of it as a party holiday meant to sell beer and cheap tequila shots. It's more than that.
Here's what you need to know.
What is the history of Cinco de Mayo?
Cinco de Mayo commemorates a Mexican victory over French forces looking to turn Mexico into a monarchy in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. General Ignacio Zaragoza led the "poorly equipped" Mexican forces, according to Encyclopedia Brittanica.
Mexico's conflict with France started in 1861 when it declared a temporary moratorium on foreign debts. This led Europe's three empires—Spain, England and France—to "intervene" and collect. The English and Spanish pulled out by 1862, but the French, with dreams of empire stoked by their emperor Napoleon III, remained to establish a monarchy and "curb U.S. power in North America," according to Encyclopedia Brittanica.
French forces wouldn't be pushed out of Mexico entirely until 1867, but the early battle became "a symbol of Mexican resistance to foreign domination", according to Encyclopedia Brittanica.
Cinco de Mayo is not a celebration of Mexican Independence Day, like many believe. Mexican Independence Day is on September 16, and it commemorates the beginning of the Mexican War of Independence against Spain that started in 1810.
Where is Cinco de Mayo celebrated?
While the holiday celebrates a Mexican military victory, it's not widely celebrated in the country. The state of Puebla has parades and speeches to mark the occasion, but it is "not much-noticed" anywhere else, according to Encyclopedia Brittanica.
The holiday is much more popular in the United States. In the mid-20th century, it started as a way for Mexican immigrants to celebrate their heritage, but in the 80s a series of ad campaigns by alcohol manufacturers caused the holiday to balloon in popularity among the general public.
Now less than 40 years later, beer sales on the Mexican holiday outpace sales from the Super Bowl and St. Patrick's Day, according to a 2013 Nielsen study.
@PartofMyHart
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: What is Cinco De Mayo? Why do we celebrate it?
