What is the origin of Cinco de Mayo? Even though millions of Americans (and Canadians and people in some other countries as well) celebrate this holiday every year, relatively few really know how the holiday got started or about the history behind this celebration. There is a very common misconception that this holiday celebrates Mexico's independence from Spain, which as it happens, is not the case. If you are curious about the historical events, which form the basis for this festive annual celebration, then keep reading to learn a little more about where Cinco de Mayo came from.

The origin of Cinco de Mayo lies in the events, which took place in 1862, particularly on May 5th; but we will get to that in a moment. The nation of Mexico was still a relatively young one then, having declared its independence from Spain in 1810 and the fledgling country was saddled with debts to foreign nations, especially Britain and France. In order for the country to regain its financial footing, Mexico's then-president Benito Juarez declared a moratorium on interest payments, which led to an invasion by British and French troops.

The British and Mexican governments negotiated a settlement and the English troops soon departed for home, but the French had other ideas. Napoleon III, the Emperor of France had his eyes on conquest and the French troops remained, beginning the Franco-Mexican War. The Mexicans resisted the foreign invasion fiercely, which actually had an effect on US history in that the Franco-Mexican conflict hampered French efforts to assist the confederate states with whom they were allied.

On May 5th, 1862, the events, which Cinco de Mayo commemorates, took place: the Battle of Puebla. A group of around 4,500 Mexican soldiers under the command of General Ignacio Zaragoza fought and defeated a French force nearly twice their size, setting the tone for the rest of the Franco-Mexican War, which ended in the expulsion of the French five years later in 1867. Inspired by the stunning upset victory, Mexicans were inspired to continue fighting and as you already know, were eventually victorious in their struggle against the foreign invaders.

The Battle of Puebla is the origin of Cinco de Mayo, but the holiday was not celebrated widely in the United States until the 1960s, when it began to be promoted as a celebration of Latino achievements and culture - which is in part why many Americans are unaware of the true story behind this holiday. Whether or not you already knew the story of Cinco de Mayo or you've just read it here, it's a holiday which we celebrate with great enthusiasm in the US; in fact, more so than in Mexico, where it is regarded as a regional holiday for the most part. Whether or not Mexico makes this holiday a big event, we are happy to salute our neighbors with parades, parties, food, and fun on this day.

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