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A common misconception in the United States is that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico's Independence Day. It's not, but party on as if it was anyway.
Cinco de Mayo in Mexico is mostly a regional holiday. Like St. Patrick's Day in Ireland, Cinco de Mayo is primarily celebrated in certain regions and all but ignored in others. Ground zero for Cinco de Mayo is in the city of Puebla, Mexico. The holiday commemorates the Mexican army's unlikely defeat of French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín.
The Battle was significant for two reasons. While badly outnumbered, the Mexican army defeated a much larger and better equipped French army that had not known defeat for almost 50 years. Also of significance, is that this battle would be "the last time that an army from another continent invaded the Americas." While it was an impressive military achievement, history wise Cinco de Mayo did not go down as a major federal holiday in Mexico. That day is September 16th. which for the record is the real true Mexican Independence day. The most important national holiday in Mexico.
While Cinco de Mayo has limited significance nationwide in Mexico, the date is observed with great enthusiasm in the United States and other places around the world (except France) as a celebration of Mexican culture and pride.
A Little History Of Cinco de Mayo
After September 16th, in the year 1810 Mexico was an independent nation. Mexico had asked for and received economic support from other governments including France Spain and England. Mexico became indebted. Due to the ongoing political unrest caused by many internal power struggles, Mexico was unable to pay back all of the loans. On July 17, 1861, President Benito Juarez issued a moratorium on debt payments to foreign governments. Payments would be suspended for a period of two years according to this decree with a promise that after this period, debts would be paid.
In 1862, the three European countries sent their fleets to Mexican shores pursuing not only money but also land an rights as payment for their loans. A government representative greeted them and explained that Mexico did acknowledge its debts, but it had no funds to pay them. They were offered payment warrants in exchange.
The Spaniards and the British decided to accept the warrants and withdrew from the scene. But the French government’s representative did not accept the offer and prompted his troops to invade the country and head toward Mexico City, the nation’s capital. They had to cross through the state of Puebla to get to the capital.
The Mexican President, Benito Juarez, reacted immediately and prepared a defense. He commissioned Ignacio Zaragoza , a young and brave General, to fortify the City of Puebla and repel the French invaders. The invaders struck, and the battle was not at all an easy one. France, under the rule of Louis Napoleon had the more powerful army, and sent more than six thousand men to invade the capital city of Mexico.
But great courage and a thirst for freedom bolstered the Mexicans and they fought back. General Ignacio Zaragoza led a force of about 4,000 mostly ill-equipped Zacapoaxtla indians, and on the 5th of May 1862, the forts of Loreto and Guadalupe, in the city of Puebla stood their ground and were defended brilliantly. They became the scene of a historical defeat of one of the great armies of Europe.
In the U.S. and elsewhere, you don't really have to be Mexican to love Cinco de Mayo, which as you now know has mainly become a great excuse to celebrate Mexican culture, music, drink, and of course food.
What To Eat
A Cinco de Mayo party is the perfect time to try your hand at some traditional Mexican dishes. Experienced chefs might try sopes, a regional food that's also highly addictive, or even empanadas. Sopapillas, on the other hand, are simple to make, as are old standbys like guacamole and quesadillas. Though traditional recipes vary by region and from family to family, here are a few authentic dishes to make you feel like you've really and truly crossed the border.
And don't let your guests get thirsty! Mexican beers like Corona, Modelo, and Necate are a refreshing choice, as are margaritas of course.
Check around the net to get yourself a number of different Cinco de Mayo drink recipes, as well as agua de jamiaca, a traditional non-alcoholic drink made from Jamaica flowers.
Enjoy the below educational video on Cinco De Mayo
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