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.History: Cinco de Mayo

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Contrary to popular belief, the 5th of May is not Mexican Independence Day. Mexico actually declared its independence from Spain on midnight, the 15th of September, 1810, nearly sixty years later. So what happened on the morning of May 5, 1862 to cause Mexicans and countless Americans as well, to celebrate this day? The Battle of Puebla.

Things weren't easy for the fledgling country after gaining its independence from Spain. The Mexican-American War (1846-1848), the Mexican Civil War of 1858, as well as many internal political uprisings and conflicts had left Mexico's economy severely depleted. In order to give his country time to gain financial stability, President Benito Juarez issued a two-year moratorium on foreign debt payments on July 17, 1861, promising to resume payments after this period. The English, Spanish and French didn't want to give Mexico the time to regroup, and instead invaded the country to get payments by whatever means necessary. While the Spanish and English eventually withdrew, the French remained with the goals of establishing an empire in Mexico under Napoleon III. The French also had their eyes on the U.S. and sought to aid Southern rebels in the Civil War.

And so it came that one of the war's earliest, but most significant battles, took place on May 5, 1862 when the French Army was defeated by a small rag-tag army of 5000 Mestizo and Zapotec Indians under the command of General Ignacio Zaragoza. While not Mexican Independence Day, the fifth of May represented a significant victory for the Mexican people. After the end of the U.S. Civil war, the Union sent weapons and ammunition to the Mexican army and many Union soldiers joined to fight to defeat the French.

Ironically the holiday has gained a wider popularity with Chicanos in the United States than it enjoys in Mexico, with the exception of the region of Puebla. Cinco de Mayo festivals typically include plenty of great food and drink as well as music, dance and Mexican culture.