Saturday 6 May 2023

Cinco de Mayo: Celebrate Mexican Victory over France & Drink Lots of Beer

What is Cinco de Mayo? Hispanic teacher explains festival

  • Cinco de Mayo is often mistaken as a celebration for Mexican independence
  • The day is associated with mariachi music, alcohol and food

What is Cinco de Mayo?  

Cinco de Mayo is Spanish for 'Fifth of May' and is observed to mark the Battle of Puebla and Mexico’s victory over French occupation in 1862 after the Reform War, that bankrupted the Mexican Treasury.

Because of this, President Benito Juarez issued a moratorium and all foreign debt payments were suspended for two years.

Britain, France and Spain sent naval forces to demand reimbursement and although the other countries withdrew, France, ruled by Napoleon III, established an empire to favour the French and was part of the plan for ‘Latin America’.

The Battle of Puebla saw the Mexicans defeat the French army on May 5, 1862 in a day long battle, with the Mexico losing 100 soldiers, but France losing over 500.

On May 9, 1862, after becoming the new Mexican President, Benito Juarez declared that the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla would be marked as a national holiday, known as the Battle of Puebla Day or Battle of Cinco de Mayo.

What do the celebrations involve?  

In Puebla, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated with historical reenactments, parades and meals with loved ones. 

The city also hosts the Festival Internacional de Puebla which sees musical artists and dancers take to the stage.

In other countries Cinco de Mayo is celebrated with an emphasis on food, drink and music.

Celebrations are held around the globe with events planned in major cities including London, Tokyo, 

All schools are closed and it is an official event in the state of Puebla.

In the 1980s marketers, particularly beer companies, began to capitalize on the celebrations and began to promote it.

This commercialization means Cinco de Mayo celebrations are more widespread in the US than in Mexico.  

Beer companies in the 1980s began to use the celebration to capitalize on Cinco de Mayo

Beer companies in the 1980s began to use the celebration to capitalize on Cinco de Mayo

The celebration was used as a tool by marketers to capitalize on it

The celebration was used as a tool by marketers to capitalize on it

It then exploded in popularity. 

Everyone thinks it's a thing, so they eat tacos and drink margaritas.

Cinco day is here: Cinco de Mayo fell on Friday this year which was a bueno way to start the weekend. Hollywood luminaries had fun taking to social media to share their tributes. Here is Carmen Electra

Here is Carmen Electra

Salud: Workout guru Denise Austin shared a festive post as she wore a white blouse. 'Happy Cinco de Mayo!!! Celebrate today with some friends and a batch of my favorite Skinny Margs! I love that these are made with simple ingredients and SO delicious!! Remember, it¿s HEALTHY to indulge every now and then¿ live your life and enjoy the little moments!! Give this skinny margarita a try today and let me know what you think in comments!'

Salud: Workout guru Denise Austin shared a festive post as she wore a white blouse. 'Happy Cinco de Mayo!!! Celebrate today with some friends and a batch of my favorite Skinny Margs! 

She used to live in Mexico: Salma Hayek tweeted that she hoped people were having a great day

Salma Hayek tweeted that she hoped people were having a great day

Bonita: Sofia Vergara was one of the first as she took a photo outside her Beverly Hills home. The Modern Family star sat by her pool as she wore a red floral print off the shoulder dress with long dramatic earrings

Bonita: Sofia Vergara

Caliente: Hollywood actress Blanca Blanco was celebrated Cinco de Mayo by a swimming pool on Friday morning

Caliente: Hollywood actress Blanca Blanco celebrated Cinco de Mayo by the swimming pool

Cinco time: The brunette beauty wore a skimpy yellow bikini that made the most of her assets as she worked on her California suntan while on a colorful blanket

Cinco time: The brunette beauty wore a skimpy yellow bikini that made the most of her assets as she worked on her suntan

Comida: President Joe Biden celebrated Cinco de Mayo on Friday by stepping out for a quesadilla and tacos at a Washington food hall

Comida: Joe Biden celebrated Cinco de Mayo by stepping out for a quesadilla and tacos

Haute by the pool: The Tale Of Tales actress also sipped on a Corona from the can as she tried to unwind

Haute by the pool: The actress sipped on a Corona

Not fun but the rewards are great! She told DailyMail.com that she has cut meat and sugar out of her diet for now


Pass the pineapple: 'I only eat sugar from fruits which is great because I love apples and strawberries. I feel it is important to detox the body every once in a while plus it also shock the metabolism. I feel less bloated, more regular and more energy,' she noted


Cinco de Mayo is now commonly observed with mariachi music, margaritas and Mexican food

Cinco de Mayo is now commonly observed with mariachi music, margaritas and Mexican food

 Thousands of people celebrated Cinco de Mayo on Saturday with tasty food, exciting parades and flamboyant costumes

 Thousands of people celebrate Cinco de Mayo with tasty food, exciting parades and flamboyant costumes

Often mistaken for Mexican Independence Day, which is September 16, Cinco de Mayo commemorates the 1862 Battle of Puebla between the victorious ragtag army of largely Mexican Indian soldiers against the invading French forces of Napoleon III
A child dressed as a French soldier marches during a re-enactment of The Battle of Puebla

Often mistaken for Mexican Independence Day, which is September 16, Cinco de Mayo commemorates the 1862 Battle of Puebla between the victorious ragtag army of largely Mexican Indian soldiers against the French forces of Napoleon III. A child dressed as a French soldier marches during a re-enactment of The Battle of Puebla

A woman dressed as a Zacapoaztla soldier marches during the re-enactment of The Battle of Puebla between the Zacapoaztlas and French army as part of the Cinco de Mayo celebrations in Mexico City

A woman dressed as a Zacapoaztla soldier marches during the re-enactment of The Battle of Puebla between the Zacapoaztlas and French army as part of the Cinco de Mayo celebrations in Mexico City

In Mexico City, actors put on a reenactment of The Battle of Puebla. People dressed up in Zacapoaxtla indigenous regalia clashed with those playing the part of French soldiers

In Mexico City, actors put on a reenactment of The Battle of Puebla. People dressed up in Zacapoaxtla indigenous regalia clashed with those playing the part of French soldiers

 Thousands paraded through the streets in Mexico City in celebration of Cinco de Mayo 

 Thousands paraded through the streets in Mexico City in celebration of Cinco de Mayo 

Mexicans wearing period costumes perform during a re-enactment of the battle of Puebla

Mexicans wearing period costumes perform during a re-enactment of the battle of Puebla

Mexicans wearing period costumes perform during a re-enactment of the battle of Puebla

Mexicans wearing period costumes perform during a re-enactment of the battle of Puebla

A man dressed as a revolutionary Zacapoaztla indigenous soldier marches during the re-enactment of The Battle of Puebla
A man wears a period costume and holds a chicken's foot in his mouth

A man dressed as a revolutionary Zacapoaztla indigenous soldier marches during the re-enactment of The Battle of Puebla as another man wears a period costume and holds a chicken's foot in his mouth

A woman dressed as a revolutionary Zacapoaztla indigenous soldier in Mexico City
A Mexican dancer poses for a photo during Cinco de Mayo celebrations in Los Angeles

Women wear traditional Mexican headdresses during Cinco de Mayo Celebrations 

The holiday is not widely celebrated in Mexico, but it is a chance to celebrate Mexican heritage in some of the major cities. Every year in Mexico City people put on a reenactment of the Battle of Puebla 

 Every year in Mexico City people put on a reenactment of the Battle of Puebla 

Young dancers in red dresses represent the Jalisco region of Mexico during Cinco de Mayo celebrations at El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historical Monument in downtown Los Angeles

Young dancers in red dresses represent the Jalisco region of Mexico during Cinco de Mayo celebrations

A young girl dances during the celebrations in Los Angeles wearing a red dress that represents the Jalisco region of Mexico, where the Battle of Puebla took place

A young girl dances during the celebrations wearing a red dress that represents the Jalisco region of Mexico, where the Battle of Puebla took place

A Mexican dancer plays drums next to a statue of Spanish King Carlos III in downtown Los Angeles. The holiday grew popular in the United States during the Mexican-American Chicano movement in California and Latinos and abolitionists who linked the victory to the fight against slavery

A Mexican dancer plays drums next to a statue of Spanish King Carlos III 

A man dressed as a revolutionary Zacapoaxtla indigenous soldier enjoys a beer as he marches during a celebratory parade in Mexico City

A man dressed as a revolutionary Zacapoaxtla indigenous soldier enjoys a beer as he marches during a celebratory parade in Mexico City

In Los Angeles, Mexican-Americans gathered to celebrate their culture near the El Pueblo de Los Angeles historical monument in downtown LA


A Mexican-American family wearing sombreros pose for a souvenir picture as they are celebrating Cinco de Mayo in Los Angeles 

A family wearing sombreros pose for a souvenir picture as they are celebrating Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo is often celebrated with Mexican food and drinks in the U.S. and other nations

Cinco de Mayo is celebrated with Mexican food and drinks


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