Cinco de Mayo is a popular holiday in the U.S., but many people don’t know what exactly it celebrates. Cinco de Mayo is much more than an excuse to indulge in some creamy homemade guacamole and mouthwatering dulce de leche cookies — when you dive into the history of this holiday, there’s actually a quite fascinating story waiting to be told. You’re in the right place to learn more about this Mexican celebration, but if you want to really impress your family, you’ll want to have this little known Cinco de Mayo trivia in your back pocket too.

A common misconception is that Cinco de Mayo is the celebration of Mexico’s independence (similar to the 4th of July in the U.S.), but that’s not true. And that’s not the only all-too-common misunderstanding about the holiday. Why not brush up on the rich history behind this celebration? You just may be in for a surprise or two.

First, when is Mexico’s Independence Day?

Mexico’s Independence Day is September 16. It was on that date in 1810 that a Catholic priest named Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla made the first claim for independence from Spain. The Mexican War of Independence lasted 11 years, 1 week, and 4 days. So the holiday we celebrate every spring doesn’t actually have anything to do with the Mexican War of Independence.

What is Cinco de Mayo?

The date that Cinco de Mayo — which is Spanish for May 5 — commemorates wouldn’t happen for several decades after the Mexican War of Independence. The day actually celebrates a single battle — the Mexican army’s 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla. The colonizing French were lead by Napoleon III. While the United States was preoccupied with the Civil War, the Emperor thought it was a good time to establish a French outpost in the Americas as a replacement for the French-controlled land lost during the Louisiana purchase.

The Mexican army was considered an underdog before defeating French forces. Though the success of the Mexican army would be relatively short lived (the French did end up controlling the country for about five years) the battle’s victory came to represent a symbolic victory for the Mexican government. Today, it’s also widely accepted as a moment to celebrate Mexican culture and heritage.

Is Cinco de Mayo celebrated in Mexico?

Cinco de Mayo is actually a much bigger deal in the U.S. than in Mexico, where most people don’t celebrate the holiday. In the 1960’s and 1970’s, the day began closely tied with the Chicano Rights movement, thanks to Mexican-American activists in California. The holiday went mainstream in the United States after 1980s ad campaigns by beer importers like Modelo and Corona.

While the holiday is definitely a bigger deal in the United States, it is still celebrated in certain parts of Mexico, with larger events likely to happen in Puebla. Parades usually take place, and sometimes, there is a reenactment of the Battle of Puebla.

With that in mind, here are a few dos and don’ts for celebrating Cinco de Mayo in America.

• DON’T wear a fake mustache, sombrero, or serape.
• DO enjoy tons of authentic Mexican food.
• DON’T call it “Cinco de Drinko” or “Cinco de Bruncho.”
• DO visit a Mexican cultural institute to learn more about Mexico’s rich history.

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20 Interesting Facts About Cinco de Mayo

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