The Actual Story of Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo has always been a great excuse to get together with friends, enjoy Mexican food, and drink margaritas. For years, I thought Cinco de Mayo celebrated Mexican independence—a common misconception among Americans. Mexican Independence Day actually falls on September 16th!
I discovered the true origins of the holiday while visiting Puebla, México - the birthplace of Cinco de Mayo. The holiday commemorates the Battle of Puebla in 1862, when Mexican forces achieved an unlikely victory over French troops. This victory was notable, for sure: On May 5, 1862, a smaller, poorly equipped Mexican army, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza, defeated a larger, better-equipped French army at the Battle of Puebla. A real David and Goliath story.
While it has always been a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, it's become a major celebration of Mexican-American culture in the United States. Think parties with lots of Mexican food, kids taking wild swings at piñatas, and adults taking equally wild swings at pronouncing "Heroica Puebla de Zaragoza" after a few margaritas.
Puebla's rich colonial architecture and deep historical significance make it worth visiting, even if you're not typically drawn to religious sites. The churches tell the story of centuries of cultural fusion - and trust me, after visiting your tenth church of the day, you'll be ready for some fusion tacos, too.
By all accounts, Puebla is a beautiful city. It's super clean, and full of fun people, TONS of beautiful churches, amazing ceramics and great food. It is also where the Battle of Puebla took place on May 5th, 1862.
It's Cinco de Mayo everyday at TexMex Fun Stuff!
You may have already put together that May 5th and Cinco de Mayo are one and the same (yes, your Spanish is muy bueno!). The celebration that we Americans love actually commemorates México's victory over the French during this famous battle in Puebla in 1862.
Visiting Puebla, I wanted to learn more about this Mexican situation/holiday that I'd been celebrating with margs and beer in the US since college! But when I asked where the enormous Cinco de Mayo fiesta was going down, I was met with strange looks and head shaking. I was genuinely startled to discover that Cinco de Mayo isn't celebrated in México at all (outside of downtown Puebla, where battle reenactments still take place!).
Huh? Was this another made up holiday?! Like when Hallmark invented Valentine's Day or Santa invented Christmas?! Just kidding-ish.
It occurred to me that my "research" was going to require a lot more than fajitas and a sturdy liver. I had to do actual historical homework. So, with a red solo cup full of margarita in hand, I headed to the site where the Battle of Puebla took place back in 1862.
I jumped in a taxi and in my best/worst Spanish said, "Take me to where the Cinco de Mayo Margarita Fiesta was invented!" My completely unimpressed taxi driver drove me to the Northeast section of town...down cobblestone streets (past a bunch of churches), up the Heroes of Cinco de Mayo Boulevard and to the top of one of the tallest hills in the city.
A Visit to the Battleground
There is this amazing park up there that gives you a 360 degree view of Puebla! The 'Centro Civico Cinco de Mayo' park includes two old forts (Los Fuertes), a gondola/funicular thingy and multiple museums. I was particularly interested in the very posh looking gold plated museum!
Was this really where the Battle of Puebla took place over 150 years ago? As luck would have it, the gold plated museum is called the Museum of the Battle of Cinco de Mayo. BINGO! I knew someone inside would help me understand the significance of this Battle/American/Mexican/Poblano holiday. Sure enough, the entrance to the museum was FREE that day and a delightfully bilingual guide was assigned to me for a very small propina (tip)!
What is the Battle of Cinco de Mayo and Why Should We Care?
My super informative guide told me that "La Batalla del Cinco de Mayo" is also known as the "Battle of Puebla" and it lasted only 1 day! Six to 8 hours to be exact . Here's the backstory: In the mid-1800's, Mexican civil wars, general political chaos and fending off foreign powers (remember the Alamo?) had more or less bankrupted México.
In July 1861, Mexican President Benito Juaréz declared a suspension on all debt payments to foreign countries for 2 years to get the budget back on track. That didn't go over well and France, Britain and Spain immediately sent troops to the shores of Veracruz demanding payment.
Britain and Spain successfully negotiated with the Mexican government and withdrew their forces, but those pesky French didn't. There are two theories as to why:
1. Napoleon III (nephew of THE Napolean) wanted to topple the Juárez government to access Mexico’s resources and to take advantage of the instability in the United States, then embroiled in its own Civil War and unable to stop a French advance. Orrrrr....
2. The French teamed up with the Confederate States, envisioning a vast slave empire stretching from the American South through Mexico to Guatemala. So Napolean III used this debt deferment as an excuse to invade and take over México to make all of his slave-owning dreams come true. What a nice guy...
Either way, Napolean III directed 6,000-7,000 troops to march from Veracruz to Pueble, take the city and then head on to the big beast...México City, for the ultimate takeover.
In response to the troops headed to "Puebla de Los Angeles" (as it was called then), President Juaréz rounded up just 2,000 troops to defend it, most of them untrained locals. Remember, the country was basically bankrupt at that time, hence the motley crew of local soldiers.
The very well dressed (bien sûr!) and organized French army began their assault on the two forts in Puebla. The Fuerte de Guadalupe (Fort of Guadalupe) and the Fuerte de Loreto (as I mentioned earlier) sit on top of the tallest hills in town. The 2,000 Mexican troops were split between these 2 forts with some hiding in churches throughout the city of Puebla.
The odds didn't look fabulous for México, but there were 4 things that Napolean III didn't take into consideration: Tunnels, churches, deception and rain.
Here's the rub: Fort de Lareto and most of the churches in central Puebla were connected by underground tunnels that the French troops were unaware of. In fact, these tunnels extend for about 6 miles in total and are tall and wide enough to ride horses on through. PERFECT! (As an aside, the tunnels were forgotten about at some point and only re-discovered in 2014. They are now open for touring!)
Back then, nuns, priests, and soldiers used the tunnels to navigate the city quickly, avoiding the bustle of the streets and the scorching Mexican sun. The Mexican soldiers could easily traverse these tunnels to and from Fuerte de Lareto, gathering supplies and reinforcements from various churches.
Since the French were focused on Fort Guadalupe, the Mexican soldiers defended it by sending a steady stream of troops and supplies through the tunnels under Fort Lareto to launch attacks from the outside. The French forces assumed they were engaged with far more than just 2,000 soldiers, leaving them surprised and intimidated. The Mexican army was executing a perfect game of deception.
The last significant influence on the outcome of the battle was the rain. May marks the beginning of the rainy season, and anyone who has spent time in Mexico during this period knows that the rain typically arrives in the afternoon.
The French made three assaults throughout the day, but they did not initiate the first one until late morning—a clear miscalculation. #LAZY #BigMistake. The second and third attempts to capture Fort Guadalupe occurred in the afternoon.
By the time the French launched their second attack on Fort Guadalupe, the pouring rain made the ascent impossible, preventing them from achieving any victory. Fortune favored the brave troops of México, and after a third unsuccessful and soaking wet attempt on the fort, the French forces accepted defeat and retreated back to Veracruz.
The Mexican forces were victorious in less than 6-8 hours under General Ignacio Zaragoza. (BTW, Zaragoza was born in Texas when it was owned by Mexico, which makes him TexMex, just like us!) He and his troops had successfully defended Fort Guadalupe, and ultimately the country of México, against 6,000-7,000 French troops. So the Prez renamed Puebla "Heroica Puebla de Zaragoza" (Heroic People of Zaragoza).
So, Why is Cinco de Mayo so Popular in the United States?
In the good old US of A, Cinco de Mayo has turned into an opportunity for Mexican-Americans to celebrate their rich heritage and an opportunity for fiesta-minded other Americans to join in some good-spirited fun! Massive parades and fiestas commemorate The Little Mexican Army that Could. And any fiesta worth its weight in salt includes a boatload of Mexican food, mariachi music, colorful piñatas, papel picado decorations galore, and of course, boozy treats.
UCLA professor, David Hayes-Bautista, author of 'El Cinco de Mayo, An American Tradition', explains that the holiday in the United States was created in the mid-1800s by Latinos living in California and has evolved over the years. In the 1930s, it embodied immigrant nostalgia, giving way to U.S. patriotism during World War II, Chicano Power in the 1960s and 1970s, and commercial intentions in the 1980s and 1990s. Today, it continues to reflect the aspirations of a community that is engaged, empowered, and growing.
Throwing a Cinco de Mayo fiesta? Check out TexMex Fun Stuff Piñatas!
They are handmade in Mexico and, if we may say so ourselves, VERY cool.
I can speak from experience after working for a beer, wine, and liquor distributor in Dallas, Texas that bars, restaurants and beverage companies in the United States (and everywhere else!) are eager to promtoe the "nostalgia" of Cinco de Mayo. ¿Por qué? Because any opportunity to celebrate a victory means increased sales!
After I finished my tour of the museum and checked out the forts, I took an Uber down the Heroes of Cinco de Mayo Boulevard with a way greater appreciation for this town and the brave people of México.
National Geographic said it well..."For Mexicans in Puebla, as well as Mexican-Americans in the United States, Cinco de Mayo has become a complex symbol of Mexican culture, resilience and character."
Cheers and Salud to Puebla, México; to Cinco de Mayo; and to the unyielding Mexican soldiers of the Battle of Puebla.
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