So here are five facts that will probably surprise you about Cinco de Mayo: 1. “But a day of celebration is a day of celebration — and that is good for everyone.”. “The French army was considered the best army in the world at the time, and they had not been defeated in decades,” Professor Margarita Sánchez of Wagner College told NBC News. “It is something that extends to cultural and national ties as well as family ties.”, Margarita Sánchez of Wagner College takes a pragmatic view of what Cinco de Mayo has become. Mexican Independence Day is September 16. But it matters not, as the issue is not drinking and driving. Follow NBC News Latino on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Mexican Independence Day is on Sept. 16th. Independence day was the whole thing with Pancho Via, and Emliano Zapata revolting against the small upper class who owned most of the land and wealth of Mexico, Pancho via wanted power and wealth, Zapata wanted to redistribute the land amongst the masses. It’s not Cinco de Mayo. It's not Mexico’s Independence Day: Cinco de Mayo commemorates the triumph of the Mexican army at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Mexican Independence Day vs Cinco de Mayo by Claudine Zap September 16 is the anniversary of Mexican Independence Day. Cinco de Mayo commemorates the very unlikely victory of a small Mexican militia in the year of 1862, when they won against the huge French army. Sign up for our newsletter for first looks at limited editions, seasonal cocktail recipes, and more. It was very unprecedented and it was short-lived, sadly, because a year later the French came back and took over. 4. The first American Cinco de Mayo celebrations date back to the 1860s, when Mexicans in California commemorated the victory. NY, NY. ?Here's a video so now every year I will just copy and paste this on my Facebook … It explains some of the customs and traditions of Mexicans. They were concerned about France, which sided with the Confederacy, being on America’s doorstep.” Had the Battle of Puebla gone differently, there is a real chance that the Civil War might have gone differently. Cinco de Mayo is a relatively insignificant event in the annals of Mexican history. It's not Mexico’s Independence Day: Cinco de Mayo commemorates the triumph of the Mexican army at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. About a century later, Chicano activists rediscovered the holiday and embraced it as a symbol of ethnic pride. Food, music and dance may be common associations with Mexican celebrations, but it’s a popular misconception that the holiday Cinco de Mayo is the official celebration of Mexican Independence. The truth is, Cinco de Mayo marks Mexican army’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín. Mexico’s independence is celebrated on September 16th and shouldn’t be confused with the holiday of May 5th. In actuality, Mexico celebrates its independence from Spain on September 16. Go To Portland, Oregon. Rather than being a day of independence, it is the celebration of the day the Mexican army was victorious over France on May 5, 1862 at the Battle of Puebla. Cinco de Mayo acknowledges the Battle of Puebla against France. To enter this site, you must be of legal drinking age in your country of residence. Here is a quick breakdown of why the French and Mexicans were battling in Puebla on Cinco de Mayo: – In 1862 Mexico was recovering from many wars: Mexican-American War 1846-48 , Mexican Civil War 1858, & the 1860 Reform Wars . It’s often thought that’s Cinco de Mayo is Mexican Independence Day. “The Battle of Puebla helped the country coalesce around the idea of a unified Mexican identity.”. Blog. Cinco de Mayo has a connection to the U.S. Civil War. Fun Facts about Mexican Independence Day (Cartoons for Kids) Educational - Duration: 3:14. So over time, this “foreign” holiday has become firmly ingrained in U.S. consciousness; Cinco de Mayo received its own commemorative postage stamp in 1998 and is also customarily observed at the White House. “And at some point it became very commercial; with people taking advantage of the day to drink all the Coronas they can drink.”. Even more surprising for some is that Cinco de Mayo, whose translation is “fifth of May” isn’t celebrated in Mexico. During that time, I have learned three important distinctions between Sept. 16 and Cinco de Mayo: 1. Cinco de Mayo is fun, but it’s so commercialized that most people who hit the bars for tequila shots and 2-for-1 taco specials on May 5th don’t even know that it commemorates a long ago historical battle. 5. Contrary to widespread popular belief, May 5th is not actually Mexican Independence Day, and the holiday is primarily celebrated in only one of Mexico's 31 states. Cinco de Mayo is sometimes mistaken for Mexico's Independence Day —the most important national holiday in Mexico—which is celebrated on September 16, commemorating the Cry of Dolores, which, in 1810, initiated the war of Mexican independence from Spain. 1. Aguirre explains that Americans of non-Mexican heritage sometimes confuse Mexican Independence Day with Cinco de Mayo, which commemorates Mexico's victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla. No, May 5 th is not Mexican Independence Day. But don’t stow away the fireworks, as celebrating Mexican heritage continues throughout the year. However, that is incorrect. Cinco de Mayo has taken on greater significance in the U.S as a day to honor Mexican culture. With celebrations all over the country this year for both Cinco de Mayo and Mexican Independance Day, take a little time to raise a glass of Tequila Casa Dragones and say “Salud”, to a true Mexican tequila when acknowledging the nation’s vibrant history. 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