One of the biggest misconceptions out there is how people in the United States think that Mexican Independence is celebrated on May 5th and not September 16th.
It is in May when we see retail stores and restaurants offering merchandise and specials to celebrate Cinco de Mayo, a holiday that is rarely celebrated in Mexico. The United States (Los Angeles, to be exact), has the biggest celebration of 5 Cinco de Mayo in the world, whereas, in Mexico, only Puebla celebrates.
Cinco de Mayo celebrates “La Batalla de Puebla”, when Napoleon III, with his French army, invaded Mexico (Puebla). Mexico defaulted on debt with Europe, so France decided to invade the country and make it a monarchy.
The French army was an undefeated force, so the triumph that Puebla had over it made it even more special, kind of a David and Goliath type of fight.
The hero of Cinco de Mayo was Ignacio Zaragoza, who led the Mexican army and defeated the French. Zaragoza was born in Texas, therefore having a connection with the United States.
So, yeah. Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico’s Independence Day.
Mexico celebrates its Cry for Independence from Spain (the evening of September 15th), and September 16th is the official day of Mexico’s Independence, where a national family-friendly fiesta takes place all over the country with amazing music, food, and parades.
So next time you are toasting with your margarita on a warm Cinco de Mayo, just make sure you know it is a celebration of how Mexico defeated the French in a small battle (and also a good excuse for a Mexican fiesta in May).
