Cinco de Mayo: 5 Facts About the Mexican Holiday

Cinco de Mayo celebrations have taken place for more than a century, but the holiday we know today is much different than its origins. The day began as a victory party commemorating Mexican forces’ unexpected victory over the French army. For Mexican Americans, it quickly became synonymous with political activism and democracy. Now a widespread holiday in the United States that promotes Mexican culture more broadly, celebrations in Mexico remain true to the day’s beginnings.

Here’s how the Cinco de Mayo holiday began and how its meaning and traditions have evolved since the 1862 Battle of Puebla.

Cinco de Mayo translates to the “Fifth of May” in Spanish. Beyond its literal meaning, Cinco de Mayo commemorates the Battle of Puebla, fought on May 5, 1862, which saw Mexico defeat its better-equipped opponent, France.

Since the 1860s, people in Mexico have celebrated the battle victory on its anniversary, though Cinco de Mayo is not a federal holiday. Today, Cinco de Mayo is mostly celebrated in Puebla, Mexico. For the rest of the country, it’s often more of an educational moment than a widespread festivity.

No, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico’s Independence Day. Despite the popular misconception otherwise, they are two different holidays.

Cinco de Mayo refers to the 1862 Battle of Puebla, when Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza led his forces to victory against a larger French army. “It was an unexpected and meaningful victory, especially as a moment of resistance, but it did not define the nation in the same way independence did,” says Sehila Mota Casper, executive director and co-founder of Latinos in Heritage Conservation.

Mexican Independence Day, on September 16, is the country’s central civic celebration. The date marks the beginning of the Mexico’s fight for independence from Spain in 1810.

“Cinco de Mayo and Mexican Independence Day are often confused, but they speak to very different moments in Mexico’s history,” Casper says. “That difference becomes clear in how each date is lived. September 16 carries a national weight. It is widely celebrated across the country and deeply embedded in Mexico’s sense of identity.”

In 1863, U.S. cities including Los Angeles and San Francisco held parades on May 5 and used Cinco de Mayo to promote democracy as the American Civil War raged on. As the Mexican American population grew and spread throughout the country, so did the celebration.

Roughly 100 years after the first Cinco de Mayo, Chicano activists promoted the holiday in the 1960s to help Mexican and Mexican American communities in the United States feel proud of their culture, explains Dora Ramírez, a professor and the director of ethnic studies at Boise State University. The activists also related Cinco de Mayo’s history to civil rights issues the community was fighting for during the mid-20th century.

Consumer marketing also had a hand in reshaping Cinco de Mayo’s meaning and how it’s celebrated. “In the 1980s, the beer industry, including Anheuser-Busch and Miller, heavily marketed this holiday as a way to gain support for their product, much like St. Patrick’s Day,” Ramírez says.

Now, many Americans treat Cinco de Mayo as a general celebration of Mexican culture rather than a holiday tied to a specific event, Casper explains. “As it entered the mainstream [in America], much of the historical specificity was lost, and in many cases, the date was adopted and commercialized in ways that disconnected it from its origins,” she says. “That shift reflects a broader pattern of cultural appropriation, where a community’s history is widely consumed without the context that gives it meaning.”

In Mexico, Cinco de Mayo traditions include parades, civic ceremonies and reenactments of the Battle of Puebla. These practices keep the meaning of Cinco de Mayo close to the historical event.

In the United States, Mexican American communities typically honor their heritage through folklórico dance, music and various activities. Parades often feature mariachi bands playing Mexican folk music and dancers in colorful, traditional Mexican clothing. “It’s a time when community comes together with family and friends,” Ramírez says. “In addition, the larger U.S. society has turned this holiday into one of drinking and having parties with their friends.”

The city of Puebla is known for its cuisine. On Cinco de Mayo, locals enjoy mole poblano, chalupas, lamb barbacoa, tamales and chiles en nogada. These dishes are also served year-round. Meanwhile, thanks in part to marketing by alcohol companies, Americans often celebrate the day with Mexican beer, frozen margaritas and tacos. Additionally, nachos, elote, guacamole and churros are popular Cinco de Mayo dishes.