The History of Cinco de Mayo:
Cinco de Mayo, Spanish for the Fifth of May, is a yearly celebration held on May 5th, to celebrate Mexico’s victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862 led by General Ignacio Zaragoza. General Ignacio Zaragoza died a few months after the battle from an illness, and a larger French military eventually defeated the Mexican military at the Second Battle of Puebla and occupied Mexico City. After the American Civil War ended in 1865, the United States began lending money and guns to the Mexican Liberals, pushing France and Mexican Conservatives to the edge of defeat. At the opening of the French chambers in January 1866, Napoleon III announced the withdrawal of French troops from Mexico. In reply to a French request for American neutrality, United States secretary of State William Seward stated that French withdrawal from Mexico should be unconditional.
Cinco de Mayo (Fifth of May) has become associated with the celebration of Mexican American culture. Cinco de Mayo celebrations originally began in California, where they have been observed annually since 1862. Cinco de Mayo gained nationwide popularity beyond those of Mexican American heritage in the 1980’s due to advertising campaigns by beer, wine, and tequila companies; today, Cinco de Mayo generates beer sales on par with the Super Bowl. In Mexico, the commemoration of the battle continues to be mostly ceremonial, such as through military parades or battle reenactments. The city of Puebla marks the event with various festivals and reenactments of the battle.
Cinco de Mayo is sometimes mistaken for Mexican Independence Day, which is celebrated on September 16th, commemorating the Cry of Dolores in the year 1810, which sparked the Mexican War of Independence from Spain. Cinco de Mayo is increasingly becoming a global celebration of Mexican culture, cuisine, and heritage.
The History of Valentine’s Day – https://www.therealmjtheterrible.com/the-history-of-valentines-day/
The History of Juneteenth – https://www.therealmjtheterrible.com/the-history-of-juneteenth/
The History of Saint Patrick’s Day – https://www.therealmjtheterrible.com/the-history-of-saint-patricks-day/
