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Cinco de Mayo (pronounced [ˈsiŋko ðe ˈmaʝo] in Mexico, Spanish for "Fifth of May") is an annual celebration held on May 5 to celebrate Mexico's victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, [1] [2] led by General Ignacio Zaragoza.
Oct 23, 2009 · Cinco de Mayo, or the fifth of May, is a holiday that celebrates the date of the Mexican army’s May 5, 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. The day,...
Oct 26, 2024 · Cinco de Mayo, holiday celebrated in parts of Mexico and the United States in honor of a military victory in 1862 over the French forces of Napoleon III. It should not be confused with Mexican Independence Day, which falls on September 16 and was established in 1810. Learn more about Cinco de Mayo.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
May 4, 2024 · Celebrated annually on May 5, Cinco de Mayo recognizes Mexico's victory over the Second French Empire led by Napoleon III at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. The holiday has since become...
- 43 sec
- Emily DeLetter,Amanda Lee Myers
- Jesse Greenspan
- Mexico had just gotten over a civil war in 1862. The so-called War of the Reform broke out in 1858 soon after liberals drafted a new constitution aimed at reducing the power and influence of the Catholic Church.
- European troops invaded because Mexico was broke. After the War of Reform, Mexico had virtually no money in its treasury and owed tens of millions of dollars to foreign debtors.
- France was considered extremely potent militarily when it attacked Mexico. In 1862, the French had one of the best armies in the world. Arriving at Puebla on May 4, they were coming off a series of victories in Southeast Asia and Northern Africa and were loaded with firepower, including long-range rifles that put the Mexicans’ creaky muskets to shame.
- After losing the Battle of Puebla, France went on to win the war. Mexico’s victory at Puebla slowed, but did not stop, France’s assault. In the wake of the battle, an infuriated Emperor Napoleon III ordered that almost 30,000 more troops be sent to Mexico.
May 1, 2024 · Large Cinco de Mayo celebrations are primarily held in southwestern cities with large populations of Americans of Mexican origins, including Fiesta Broadway in Los Angeles. A number of cities, including Denver and Washington D.C., host chihuahua races!
Jul 12, 2022 · Today, Cinco de Mayo in the US is a celebration of Mexican culture, marked with street parties and parades – with lots of mariachi music, Mexican folk dances, and traditional Mexican foods. The most elaborate celebrations occur in Los Angeles and Houston, as well as Chicago on the east coast.
