Celebrating the Battle of Puebla which took place on May 5,
1862. In 1861, France sent a massive army to invade Mexico, as they wanted to
collect on some war debts. The French army was much larger, better trained and
equipped than the Mexicans struggling to defend the road to Mexico City. It
rolled through Mexico until it reached Puebla, where the Mexicans made a
valiant stand, and, against all logic, won a huge victory. It was short-lived,
as the French army regrouped and continued; eventually taking Mexico City, but
the euphoria of an unlikely victory against overwhelming odds is remembered
every May fifth.
Isn’t it Mexico’s Independence Day?
That' a common misconception. Mexico celebrates its independence
on September 16, because it was on that day in 1810 that Father Miguel Hidalgo
took to his pulpit in the village church of the town of Dolores and
invited his flock to take up arms and join him
in overthrowing Spanish tyranny. Independence Day
is a very important holiday in Mexico and not to be confused with de Mayo.
Cinco de Mayo is a big deal in Puebla, where the famous battle
took place but it really isn't as important as most people think. September 16,
Independence Day, is a much more important holiday in Mexico. For some reason,
Cinco de Mayo is celebrated more in the United States of America, by Mexicans
and Americans alike, than it is in Mexico. One theory for why it is more
popular in the USA is that at one time, it was celebrated in all of Mexico and
by Mexicans living in former Mexican territories such as Texas and California.
It was ignored in Mexico after a while but still celebrated north of the
border, which never got out of the habit of remembering the famous battle.
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