Everything You Know About Cinco de Mayo is WRONG

Looking for the best Cinco de Mayo fun facts?

You’re in the right place. This article shares some of the best and most fun facts about Cinco de Mayo, and some of these will probably shock you.

🇲🇽 As an American who has lived in Mexico since 2018, I’ve experienced my share of American and Mexican Cinco de Mayo traditions — and yes, they are different. 

In this article, you’re about to uncover the truth about Cinco de Mayo, including important facts about Cinco de Mayo you probably never knew!

Buckle up as we are about to talk about the interesting facts about Cinco de Mayo, but first, let’s address the #1 most-asked 5 de Mayo question: What is Cinco de Mayo?

It’s a celebration of Mexican resilience and patriotism, particularly emphasized in the state of Puebla, Mexico, and its capital of Puebla de Zaragoza (AKA Puebla City).

The Battle of Puebla was led under General Ignacio Zaragoza’s command, which is why his name is now immortalized in the city’s name.

Zaragoza is one of the most important Mexican heroes.

Cinco de Mayo is NOT Mexico’s Independence Day

I repeat: Cinco de Mayo and Mexican Independence Day ARE NOT the same holiday… How’s that for fun Cinco de Mayo facts you probably didn’t know!?

Independence Day is celebrated on September 16, while Cinco de Mayo is May 5th — but let’s examine some other differences.

In fact, Mexican independence was declared more than 50 years before the Battle of Puebla.

Here’s another one of the interesting Cinco de Mayo facts you probably don’t know:

A typical Cinco de Mayo celebration in Mexico is much more low-key compared to Independence Day celebrations.

The truth is that Cinco de Mayo is not considered a major holiday — and even the largest Cinco de Mayo celebration in Mexico pales in comparison to El Grito de Dolores during Independence Day.

Mexican Independence Day falls on September 16.

It marks the anniversary of Mexico’s independence from Spanish rule, initiated by the priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla’s Call to Arms in 1810 (called El Grito de Dolores).

The confusion between these two historical events arises due to their significance in celebrating Mexican history and resistance against foreign domination.

🇲🇽 Cinco de Mayo vs Día de la Independencia

A typical Cinco de Mayo celebration in Mexico is much smaller than a Mexico Independence Day celebration.

In fact, the Mexico City Independence Day celebration is one of the country’s largest events.

While everyone from the Mexican president to state governors host city-wide Independence Day celebrations, you won’t find that Cinco de Mayo is a celebration.

Cinco de Mayo is not a federal holiday in Mexico

Contrary to popular belief in the United States, Cinco de Mayo is not a federal holiday across most of Mexico.

Its observation is primarily limited to the state of Puebla, where the historic battle occurred. 

While some schools and public offices may close in Puebla de los Angeles (Puebla City), the fifth of May is generally a regular working day elsewhere in Mexico.

This distinction highlights the holiday’s localized importance in Mexico versus its broader cultural celebration in the United States.

Mexicans don’t call it Cinco de Mayo

Looking for facts about Cinco de Mayo in Spanish? While Cinco de Mayo in English is a well-known phrase, in Mexico, many use different terminology.

In Mexico, the holiday is more formally called El Día de la Batalla de Puebla (The Day of the Battle of Puebla), rather than Cinco de Mayo.

The term Cinco de Mayo has gained more popularity in the United States as part of the holiday’s commercialization and celebration of Mexican-American culture.

Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico’s victory over France

Cinco de Mayo marks the Mexican army’s triumph against French troops at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

This victory is celebrated because it represented a significant morale boost for the Mexican people and symbolized resistance against foreign intervention. 

The battle occurred during the Franco-Mexican War, a conflict arising from Mexico’s temporary suspension of debt payments to European governments, leading France, under Napoleon III, to attempt to establish a monarchy in Mexico.

Cinco de Mayo started on the 5th of May 1862

Cinco de Mayo originated on May 5, 1862, when the Mexican army, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza, unexpectedly defeated French forces at the Battle of Puebla. 

Despite being outnumbered and poorly equipped, the Mexican troops defeated one of the world’s most formidable military powers at the time.

This victory symbolized Mexican resilience and patriotism, inspiring a sense of unity and national pride among Mexicans.

Wondering, When did Cinco de Mayo start? — as in, when did the holiday first take place?

That was on May 9, 1862 when then-President Benito Juárez declared the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla as a national holiday.

President Benito Juárez declared Cinco de Mayo a national holiday in Mexico on May 9, 1862

Following the surprising victory at the Battle of Puebla, President Benito Juárez declared May 5th as a national holiday in Mexico on May 9, 1862.

This declaration was intended to commemorate the courage and determination of the Mexican soldiers in defeating the French invaders. 

The day, known as the “Battle of Puebla Day” or “Battle of Cinco de Mayo,” is observed to remember the Mexican army’s valor and the significance of the victory in Mexico’s resistance against foreign occupation.

President Roosevelt helped popularize Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the U.S. 

President Franklin D. Roosevelt played a key role in popularizing Cinco de Mayo in the United States by implementing the Good Neighbor Policy in 1933. 

This policy aimed to improve relations with Latin American countries, and the celebration of Cinco de Mayo became a symbol of cultural diplomacy and solidarity with Mexico. 

The policy encouraged the observance of Cinco de Mayo as a way to celebrate and appreciate Mexican culture and heritage, contributing to the holiday’s growing popularity in the U.S.

The holiday is associated with Mexican-American pride & The Chicano Rights Movement

Cinco de Mayo has become a symbol of Mexican-American pride and cultural identity in the United States.

It gained prominence during the Chicano Rights Movement of the 1960s and 1970s, when activists sought to reclaim Mexican-American heritage and rights.

🇲🇽 What is the Chicano Rights Movement?

As you’ve read, Cinco de Mayo commemorates the victory of the Mexican Army over France at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.

This historical moment came to represent the struggle against foreign domination and the resilience of the Mexican people — and its symbolism was repurposed for Chicano activists in the 1960s and 1970s.

The Chicano Rights Movement (AKA Chicano Resistance Movement) used this symbolism to reflect the contemporary struggle for civil rights, social justice, and cultural affirmation within the United States.

Not every Mexican state celebrates Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo is not uniformly celebrated across all of Mexico.

Its observance is primarily concentrated in the state of Puebla, where the 1862 battle against French forces took place.

In the Mexican city of Puebla, Cinco de Mayo festivities include military parades, special Mexican dishes, speeches from government officials, and reenactments of the Battle of Puebla.

However, outside of Puebla, Cinco de Mayo is often a regular day with no official government holidays observed.

Cinco de Mayo was officially recognized in the US in 2005

Cinco de Mayo received official recognition in the United States in 2005.

This marked a significant acknowledgment of the day’s cultural and historical importance to the Mexican-American community.

Cinco de Mayo is more widely celebrated in the US than in Mexico

One of the more interesting facts about 5 de Mayo is that it’s celebrated more fervently and on a larger scale in the United States than in Mexico.

While the holiday commemorates a Mexican military victory, it has evolved in the U.S. into a broader celebration of Mexican culture and heritage.

Large-scale parades, festivals, and educational events across the U.S. reflect the holiday’s significance in promoting cultural understanding and unity.

This widespread observance contrasts with its more localized and subdued recognition in Mexico, where it remains primarily a regional celebration in the state of Puebla.

The world’s largest Cinco de Mayo Festival is in Los Angeles

Wondering, How is Cinco de Mayo celebrated in the U.S.?

You can find large-scale celebrations that draw in hundreds of thousands of attendees in places like Denver, Chicago, San Antonio and New York City.

However, the Los Angeles Cinco de Mayo celebration, known as Fiesta Broadway, is said to be one of the largest in the world.

This festival features mariachi bands, Latino music superstars, and lots of Mexican food, attracting large crowds annually. 

Mole poblano is considered the official dish of Cinco de Mayo

Mole is a traditional Mexican sauce known for its rich, complex flavors and deep cultural roots, often considered the national dish of Mexico.

(Well, it’s technically the co-national dish, along with chile en nogada).

It is made from a blend of chili peppers, spices, chocolate, and several other ingredients, resulting in a distinctive dark sauce. 

Though Oaxaca state is known for these seven moles, mole poblano hails from the city of Puebla.

As you now know, this is the site of the Battle of Puebla, which Cinco de Mayo commemorates.

Its association with this historic victory and its profound cultural significance make mole poblano the official dish of Cinco de Mayo, celebrated for its unique taste and historical relevance.

Americans eat millions of avocados on May 5th

In the United States around Cinco de Mayo, it’s estimated that 151.2 million pounds of avocados are sold in the two weeks before the holiday.

(🥑 Note: I’ve also seen this reported at 81 million pounds of avocados).

This spike in avocado sales highlights the fruit’s popularity, particularly for making guacamole, a staple of Cinco de Mayo celebrations.

This is one of the best fun facts about Cinco de Mayo food, and it also helps the California Avocado Commission by building demand for California avocados.