May 5, 2010
Did You Know? Cinco de Mayo Celebrates the Battle of Puebla
In this undated Smithsonian archives photo, a crowd gathers in Mexico City's Plaza de Armas to celebrate an anniversary of the Battle of Puebla. Photo courtesy of the National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution INV 00829302.
Though the holiday originated in Mexico, the celebrations known as Cinco de Mayo are now a favorite pastime for many Americans, too.
Common belief is that the fifth of May marks Mexico’s independence. But that’s celebrated on September 16. Cinco de Mayo is a holiday that commemorates the victory of the Mexican army over a far larger French force in the Battle of Puebla, on May 5, 1862.
The conflict began in 1861, when Benito Juarez, then the president of Mexico, stopped paying interest on the money he owed several countries, including France. In response, the French army invaded Mexico and tried to take over the country. The French’s first attempt was successful: The city of Campeche was overtaken on February 27, 1862. But in an incredible comeback, the Mexican army, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín, with just 4,000 men, trounced the French army of 8,000. The French hadn’t lost a battle in 50 years.
Today, celebrations in Mexico are most widespread in the state of Puebla itself. Those looking for an unusual way to celebrate here in the states can join in from any location beginning tonight at 8 p.m., when the ground-breaking Smithsonian Latino Virtual Museum in Second Life hosts a night of art and music. The online celebration features music by DJ Bambarito, and a live poetry reading by Nancy Lorenza Green, an Afro-Chicana artist from El Paso and Cd. Juarez. So dance your way over to you your computer for a mid-week fiesta. But make sure to keep that margarita away from the keyboard.
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Hahahaha unknown city in the photo? OOOOps !!!! … Smithsonian guys thats the main square in Mexico City !! ..
Thanks for catching our error, George! It’s been fixed.
Thanks for this brief explanation!
I’m from Mexico and few years ago while visiting US I noticed that people celebrate this day as the mexican Independence day. I learned more of this looking for an answer:
Juarez renegotiated the debt through “La soledad agreement”. England and Spain returned to their countries, but France refused to comply this, so deciding to attack. The mexican victory was important to US people because French invasion supposed a risk to the US sovereignty and attempt against US interests, we must remember that American Civil War was taking place when France invaded Mexico. I think this is the main reason why Americans celebrate this day as Mexicans celebrate September 16.
Did you know? Nobody in Mexico celebrates Cinco de Mayo except in downtown Puebla, and even that is no biggie? I used to live in an Indigenous community in Puebla and nobody in the whole Sierra celebrates. They only know the date from elementary school history lessons. It has turned into Mexican-American Day, a celebration of mestizo Mexicans in the US trying to maintain some culture, unity, and identity. It makes something happy out of nostalgia. It has much more similarity to St. Patricks for Irish descendants day or Columbus Day for Italian descendants. And that’s a good thing, because then other immigrant-descendants will get to know their Mexican neighbors in a positive light.
The French had not lost a battle in fifty years? That rather leaves out Waterloo …