What Is Cinco De Mayo

What is Cinco de Mayo? Cinco de Mayo is a Spanish festival which means the fifth of May, celebrated annually on the same date. Cinco de Mayo was originally called "Batalla de Puebla" or Battle of Puebla in which the Mexican army, ill-equipped, poorly trained and small in size triumphed over the imperialist French army, bent on plunder and invasion. The Mexicans accomplished this victory on 5 May, 1862. This battle arose from the Mexican-American war of 1846, which drained Mexico of its resources and declared itself bankrupt because of its outstanding loans occurred during the war period. 

The battle numbered 12,000 soldiers: Mexico's 5,000 and France's 7,000. European financiers from France, Spain and England were outraged at the payback delay, however, it was mainly the French which took the initiative and organized an occupation of Mexico. Although the 5th of May indicates a notable victory, the meagre Mexican forces were not able to hold off the persistent European troops from invasion. 

In the end, Maximilien I of France of Austria became French Emperor of Mexico on 10 April 1864. His ascension to power marked the Second Mexican Empire. This government did not find favor and in the end, Maximilien I was executed in 19 June 1867, when liberal Mexican troops got support from the U.S. government and from those loyal to President Benito Juarez.   

The Cinco de Mayo festival is commemorated with Mexican music, mariachi dancing, singing, and Mexican cuisine. It is generally a time for Mexican patriotism, not to be confused with Mexico's independence day, ¡Viva Mexico! Cinco de Mayo is predominantly celebrated in the U.S. as many Mexicans have migrated. It has taken on a meaning representing opposition to foreign occupation.