Cinco de Mayo - History
Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican holiday celebrated annually. Known as El Cinco de Mayo, the holiday is based on a unique event in Mexican history, which occurred on the fifth of May.
Cinco de Mayo - History
Every country celebrates a unique day in its history. This is often the day when the country either gained independence from an imperial force or came together in its present form. For instance, the United States celebrates Independence Day on July 4th each year to commemorate the day independence from the British occurred. Many people assume the history of Cinco de Mayo refers to a similar event. It does not.
The independence day for Mexico is celebrated every year in September. As the name suggests, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated on May 5th each year. Given the popularity of the holiday, one must wonder what exactly the history is of Cinco de Mayo.
Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of a military victory. Specifically, the day is a memorial to the defeat of the French army in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. Specifically, the battle was a sign of the coming of age of Mexico, primarily because of the circumstances surrounding it.
In the mid-1800s, the French were a superior military force. This is the period of Napoleon, a time when France dominated much of the known world. In Mexico, the military process of the people was in great doubt. The Battle of Puebla would change this forever and provide a huge boost to a country.
The battle commemorated by Cinco de Mayo was one of those historic events where the underdog comes out on top. In this case, a Mexican force of 4,000 men were led into battle by a 33 year old general by the name of Ignacio Zaragoza. In turn, the French force consisted of 6,000 troops from Napoleon’s army, although Napoleon did not lead them. As you can guess, the French were defeated after only four hours.
The history of Cinco de Mayo is a momentous event in the culture of Mexico. Just keep in mind that it is not a celebration of independence day.
