Cinco de Mayo is an annual celebration held on May 5 to celebrate Mexico’s victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza. Zaragoza died months after the battle from an illness, and a larger French force ultimately defeated the Mexican army at the Second Battle of Puebla and then occupied Mexico City.
๐ Origins and History
Cinco de Mayo has its roots in the second French intervention in Mexico, which took place after the 1846โ48 MexicanโAmerican War and the 1858โ61 Reform War. These wars nearly bankrupted the Mexican Treasury, leading President Benito Juรกrez to suspend foreign debt payments for two years in 1861.
France, Spain, and the United Kingdom sent naval forces to Veracruz to demand reimbursement. France, ruled by Napoleon III, decided to establish an empire in Mexico, while Britain and Spain negotiated with Mexico and peacefully withdrew.
โ๏ธ The Battle of Puebla
Late in 1861, a well-armed French fleet attacked Veracruz, landing a large French force and driving President Juรกrez and his government into retreat. The French army of 6,500โ8,000 attacked the poorly equipped Mexican army of 4,000 at the Mexican forts of Loreto and Guadalupe near Puebla.
On May 5, 1862, the Mexicans decisively defeated the French army. The victory represented a significant morale boost to the Mexican army and the Mexican people and helped to establish a sense of national unity and patriotism.
๐ซ๐ท French Withdrawal and Aftermath
The Mexican victory was short-lived, as a year later the French captured Mexico City and installed Emperor Maximilian I as ruler. Maximilian’s rule lasted only three years, from 1864 to 1867.
Following the end of the American Civil War in 1865, the United States began lending money and guns to the Mexican Liberals. Napoleon III, facing Mexican guerilla resistance and the threat of war with Prussia, began withdrawing French troops from Mexico in 1866.
๐บ๐ธ Celebration in the United States
Cinco de Mayo is more popular in the United States than in Mexico and has become associated with the celebration of Mexican-American culture. Celebrations began in Columbia, California, where they have been observed annually since 1862.
The day gained nationwide popularity in the 1980s due to advertising campaigns by beer, wine, and tequila companies. Today, Cinco de Mayo generates beer sales on par with the Super Bowl.
๐ฒ๐ฝ Celebration in Mexico
In Mexico, the commemoration of the battle continues to be mostly ceremonial, such as through military parades or battle reenactments. The city of Puebla marks the event with various festivals and reenactments of the battle.
Cinco de Mayo is not observed as a national holiday in Mexico, but all public schools are closed nationwide on May 5. The day is an official holiday in the State of Puebla and a full holiday in the neighboring State of Veracruz.
๐ Key Dates and Facts
| Event | Date | Details | Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battle of Puebla | May 5, 1862 | Mexican victory over French | Morale boost for Mexico |
| French Occupation | 1864โ1867 | Maximilian I installed as ruler | French control of Mexico |
| French Withdrawal | 1866 | Napoleon III withdrew troops | End of French intervention |
| U.S. Congressional Resolution | June 7, 2005 | Called for observance of Cinco de Mayo | Official U.S. recognition |