Cinco de Mayo marks the Battle of Puebla, a single but significant clash that took place on May 5, 1862, in the city of Puebla, Mexico. That day, a ragtag group of about 2,000 Mexican soldiers defeated a much larger and better-equipped French force of 6,000. The victory was unexpected add symbolic.

The Mexican forces, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza, were outgunned and outnumbered. But against the odds, they held their ground and forced the French to retreat. It wasn’t a war-ending victory, but the Battle of Puebla gave Mexicans a powerful sense of national pride and resistance. It was a moment of defiance and dignity under pressure.

Why it’s bigger in the U.S.:

In the U.S., Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a celebration of Mexican-American culture, particularly since the 1960s during the Chicano civil rights movement. Over time, it became a marketing vehicle — especially for beer and tequila brands — and morphed into a broader party atmosphere focused on food, music, and heritage.

Sources: history.com

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Maria Cox