The Real History Behind Cinco de Mayo and How It's Celebrated

Often referred to as Mexico's Saint Patrick's Day, Cinco de Mayo is an annual holiday celebrating the Mexican army's victory over the French military forces of Napoleon III at the Battle of Puebla in the mid-19th century. 

Cinco de Mayo, which literally means "Fifth of May" in Spanish, is best recognized in the United States as a day to celebrate Mexican culture. 

Though it is no longer a major celebration in Mexico—except in Puebla, where the battle took place—Americans of Mexican ancestry living in southern and southwestern states like California and Texas celebrate it with great enthusiasm. 

Extravagant parades, dance performances in traditional clothing, music, and festivals are all part of the festivities in these U.S. states.

Ever wonder about the history of Cinco de Mayo, how it is celebrated, and why the celebrations in California are much bigger than the ones in Puebla? Read on to discover the answers to these questions!

History of Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo marks the day the Mexican army defeated the French armed forces in the Mexican-French battle at the east-central city of Mexico, Puebla, on May 5, 1862.

Under Emperor Napoleon III, France attempted to colonize Mexico and exploit its natural resources after Mexico defaulted on foreign debts. They wanted to establish a monarchy under Maximilian of Austria and invaded Mexico for the second time with a massive, well-equipped, and trained army. 

The Mexican army was not much larger than the French army and struggled to defend the road to Mexico City. When the French troops reached Puebla, poorly-supplied Mexicans of mixed ancestry under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza repulsed the French troops.  

It was not a strategic win against the French, and they eventually took control of Mexico a year later. However, this triumph became a symbol of Mexican soldiers' resistance against European colonizers. 

Cinco de Mayo was first celebrated a couple of weeks after the victory in the Battle of Puebla as the news spread throughout the country. However, the first recorded celebration of Cinco de Mayo in the U.S. was in 1863 in southern California in response to the resistance to the French monarchy in Mexico.

In the following decades, it was celebrated in the country's southwestern part. While Cinco de Mayo has its origins in Mexico, it is now more than a Mexican thing and has been celebrated to build awareness and educate people about Mexican culture. 

Cinco de Mayo Celebration in Mexico and the U.S.

Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in the state of Puebla, where the Battle of Puebla took place, and in many cities in the United States with large Mexican populations. This day is celebrated with colorful parades, festivals, Mexican food, music, and dancing. 

In Puebla, this day is celebrated with a grand parade, and people take the streets for a day-long celebration with dance, live music, and food. 

On the other hand, Cinco de Mayo in the U.S. is more about celebrating the Mexican way of life instead of remembering the bravery of indigenous Mexican soldiers. 

This annual holiday has evolved into a cultural celebration featuring traditional Mexican food, Dos Equis and Corona beers, Mariachi bands, street fairs, parades, folkloric dance, and more. 

In the U.S., Mexican restaurants offer special deals on food, bring in Mariachi bands to honor Mexican culture and heritage, schoolchildren decorate their classrooms, and weed dispensaries and online weed delivery services offer special Cinco de Mayo weed deals much like 420 deals. 

In addition, Cinco de Mayo has been used as a teachable moment to address racist caricatures about Mexican Americans and Mexican people.

How is it celebrated in California?

California is one of the states that was formerly part of Mexico and became a U.S. state in 1850. After Cinco de Mayo gained popularity in the U.S. as a day to celebrate Mexican culture, it became one of California's favorite excuses to party in the 1990s. 

Today, Festival de Fiesta Broadway is held annually in Los Angeles, California, and is known as the world's largest Cinco de Mayo celebration. This large, raucous party takes place along Broadway in Downtown Los Angeles, featuring delicious Mexican food, live music, dancing, parades, carnival rides, and more. 

Festival de Fiesta Broadway is even bigger than the festivities in Puebla, attracting hundreds of thousands of locals each year. With restaurants offering amazing deals on Mexican food, California's weed delivery services have also joined the celebration in recent years with special offers for this fun holiday. 

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