Cinco de Mayo (redirected from Cinco del Mayo)

Cinco de Mayo

(Spanish; “Fifth of May”)

Mexican holiday commemorating the Mexican victory over the French at Puebla in 1862. The French army, better-equipped and far larger than the Mexican army, had been sent by Napoleon III to conquer Mexico. The Mexicans, under Gen. Ignacio Zaragoza, defeated the French at Puebla, inflicting serious losses. The French withdrew to the coast but returned the next year to take Puebla; they would control most of Mexico for the next four years. Cinco de Mayo celebrations often include music, dancing, and parades.

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Cinco de Mayo

May 5

Cinco de Mayo or the Fifth of May is a national holiday in Mexico commemorating the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, in which Mexican troops under General Ignacio Zaragoza defeated the invading French forces of Napoleon III. Although the battle itself represented only a temporary setback for the French, the Mexicans' victory against overwhelming odds gave them the confidence they needed to persevere until finally triumphing on April 2, 1867.
The anniversary of this event is celebrated not only in Mexico but in many American communities with large Mexican-American populations—especially in the southwestern states of Texas, Arizona, and southern California. The events include parades, patriotic speeches, bullfights, barbecues, and beauty contests. Olvera Street in Los Angeles is particularly known for its Cinco de Mayo celebration.

CONTACTS:
Mexico Tourism Board
21 E. 63rd St., Fl. 3
New York, NY 10021
800-446-3942 or 212-821-0314; fax: 212-821-0367
www.visitmexico.com
University of California
405 Hilgard Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90095
310-825-4321
www.ucla.edu

SOURCES:
AmerBkDays-2000, p. 343
AnnivHol-2000, p. 77
DictFolkMyth-1984, p. 1065
FolkWrldHol-1999, p. 329
HolSymbols-2009, p. 152
OxYear-1999, p. 198

Celebration day: May 5