CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – On May 5 every year, people across the United States celebrate Cinco de Mayo, a holiday that is often mistaken as Mexican Independence Day.
Mexicans celebrate their independence on Sept. 16 each year. Cinco de Mayo, which translates to “fifth of May” in English, is a different holiday — and one that isn’t necessarily widely celebrated in Mexico.
So, what is Cinco de Mayo, and why is it celebrated every year in the U.S.?
History of Cinco de Mayo
The Cinco de Mayo holiday is meant to commemorate the Mexican military’s victory in the 1862 Battle of Puebla during the country’s war with France.
In 1861, Benito Juárez, Mexico’s newly-elected president, was forced to default on debt payments to Europe, according to editors at History.com. Mexico was said to be in “financial ruin” at the time.
Military forces from France, Britain, and Spain were sent to Veracruz, Mexico in response to the default. The European counties were there to demand payment.
British and Spanish forces reportedly negotiated with Mexico, and withdrew their men from the country. But the situation with France was different.
Napoleon III, who was leading France at the time, decided to try and make an empire out of Mexican territory. French military members invaded Veracruz in late 1861, forcing Juárez to retreat.
The fight moved to the Mexican city of Puebla, where the tables turned for Mexico’s military.
Despite being largely outnumbered by French forces, the Mexican military achieved an unlikely victory in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.
Mexico lost fewer than 100 out of 2,000 men in the battle, while France lost about 500 out of 6,000 men.
The Battle of Puebla was not a major strategic win for Mexico in the Franco-Mexican War, experts say, but the unlikely achievement served as a symbolic victory for the Mexican government.
France did not withdraw from Mexico until 1867.
Cinco de Mayo celebrations look different in Mexico
Cinco de Mayo is a relatively small holiday in the country of Mexico.
The victory of the Battle of Puebla is primarily celebrated in the city of Puebla, which largely recognizes the victory through military reenactments.
For the rest of Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is not considered a national holiday. Businesses are still open, and most people still go to work.
Celebrations are seen in other Mexican regions, though, such as in the Peñon de los Baños neighborhood of Mexico City.
Mexican Independence Day, a different occasion, falls on Sept. 16 and commemorates Mexico’s independence from Spain.
Why Americans celebrate Cinco de Mayo
The small-time Mexican holiday was promoted heavily in the United States in the 1960s by activists who, in part, “identified with the victory of Indigenous Mexicans (such as Juárez) over European invaders during the Battle of Puebla,” History.com says.
Many Americans and Mexican Americans now view the annual holiday as a day to celebrate Mexican culture and heritage. The holiday is often recognized with parades, parties, and indulging in Mexican foods and drinks — some authentic, others not so much.
While it is celebrated across the U.S., Cinco de Mayo celebrations are particularly popular in regions with significant Mexican-American populations. This year’s Cinco de mayo falls on a Monday, so many cities hosted celebrations the weekend before.
The day is not all tacos and tequila, though. The U.S. celebrations serve as a way for Mexican Americans to preserve their cultural identity, Sehila Mota Casper, director of Latinos in Heritage Conservation, told the AP.
“Since then we’ve seen a shift to more commercialization and commodification and mockery over the years,” Mota Casper said. ”I think that has a lot to do with the commercialization of products and especially Latino heritage.”
This year’s celebrations came amid a tense political environment in the U.S., especially for people of Mexican and Hispanic or Latin descent.
U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration have continued to push for the mass deportation of undocumented immigrants, including people from Mexico. The Trump administration has frequently labeled Mexican immigrants as criminals and gang members amid its efforts to end birthright citizenship, rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, and eliminate federal diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
A news release from the Department of Homeland Security on Monday said that the government will pay undocumented immigrants to voluntarily leave the U.S.
The AP spoke with Mexican Americans about the holiday — and some, like Andrea Ruiz, highlighted what they see as irony related to Cinco de Mayo celebrations.
“I think it’s funny Trump … and all of his supporters want to get Mexicans out, call them criminals, but then on Cinco de Mayo, they want to go and eat tacos and drink tequila,” Ruiz said.
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