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8 Facts About Cinco de Mayo
If you are like a lot of other Americans, you celebrate the Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo each year, regardless of whether or not you know anything about this holiday at all. There are some interesting historical facts surrounding this day as well as some modern trivia, which might surprise you. If you would like to learn more, keep reading for 8 facts about Cinco de Mayo.
1) Although many people believe that Cinco de Mayo is a holiday, which celebrates Mexico's independence from Spain, this is not the case. While the reasons for this common misconception are less than clear, Cinco de Mayo actually celebrates the victory of the Mexican army over the French at the Battle of Puebla, which occurred on May 5th, 1862; more than 50 years after Mexico's declaration of independence in 1810.
2) Cinco de Mayo literally means "The Fifth of May" in Spanish.
3) Cinco de Mayo is celebrated more widely in the United States than in Mexico, where celebrations are largely confined to Puebla and Mexico City rather than being a nationwide event as it is here.
4) Cinco de Mayo events in Mexico include reenactments of the Battle of Puebla, with these reenactments occurring both in Mexico City as well as at the actual site of the historic battle.
5) The largest Cinco de Mayo parade in the world takes place in Los Angeles, California rather than in Mexico.
6) Even though the events commemorated by the Cinco de Mayo holiday took place in Mexico, the battle had an effect on American history as well. Napoleon III was allied with the southern states in the US Civil War, which was going on at the same time. Hampered by the unexpectedly fierce Mexican resistance to their invasion, France was prevented from providing assistance to the confederacy, possibly affecting the outcome; or at least the duration of the Civil War. After the conclusion of the war, the US provided assistance to Mexico, sending supplies and providing a naval blockade to prevent the French from bringing in supplies or reinforcements, allowing the Mexicans to defeat the French more quickly.
7) Cinco de Mayo parades and other celebrations are held in just about every major city in the United States (and in many smaller cities as well), with events going on everywhere from coast to coast.
8) Cinco de Mayo is also celebrated (although to a lesser extent than in the US or Mexico) in other countries. In Canada, an annual Cinco de Mayo skydive takes place and most unusually of all, there is an annual Cinco de Mayo air guitar competition held in the Cayman Islands!
