CincoDeMayoFlipbook

Cinco de Mayo
Have you heard of
it?
Do you know what it
is all about?

Is it Mexican Inde-
pendence Day?
Is it celebrated all
throughout Mexico?
Is it just a U.S.
holiday?

What is The Battle of The French retreated
Cinco de Mayo? Puebla pitted though it would take six
Cinco de Mayo commemo- 2,000 Mexican more years - and more
rates the day in 1862 when troops against battles - to convince the
the Mexican army, under 6,000 French. French to exit Mexico.
the leadership of General At the end of Cinco de Mayo - which lit-
Ignacio Zaragoza, con- the day, al- erally translates to "May 5"
quered the French forces most 500 - is not Mexican Independ-
of Napoleon III at the Bat- French soldiers were killed ence Day, which is cele-
tle of Puebla. while Mexican forces lost less brated on Sept. 16, and
than 100 men. marks the
start of the
The victory provided war of Mexi-
a significant morale can inde-
boost to the Mexican people pendence
and came to serve as a symbol from Spain.
of the country's spirit and perse- In the U.S., Cinco de Mayo
verance. celebrations were first held
in California in the 1860s,
marked among the hun-
dreds of Mexican miners
who had crossed the bor-
der to work in the west.
The celebration spread as
Hispanic culture grew in
the U.S., getting a com-

mercial boost in the Puebla, where the battle
1980s when restau- took place.
rants and bars began Some of the largest cele-
cashing in on the brations in the U.S. are
event. held in Los Angeles and in
Cinco de Mayo is not a towns throughout the
national holiday in west.
Mexico, though many
schools close and a The day is commemorat-
larger celebration is ed with celebrations of
held in the State of Mexican cuisine, culture
and music.