Interesting facts about Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo—which means "the fifth of May" in Spanish—is widely celebrated in the United States, but not everyone knows exactly whythey're tipping back that margarita or three. The annual holiday is about much more than cocktails, enchiladas (and, if you're not Mexican, please don't wear a sombrero!). It's a chance to enjoy the country's rich cultural history, including the true reason for Cinco de Mayo. If you plan on getting festive at home this year, or you're simply curious why the day is a special occasion, check out these fascinating Cinco de Mayo facts.

It’s not Mexican Independence Day

That would be September 16, which is during Hispanic Heritage Month—but it's a common misconception in the U.S.

It celebrates a small but important battle

Cinco de Mayo commemorates a powerful moment of Mexican resistance against foreign occupation: The day-long Battle of Puebla, which took place on May 5, 1862. Though the French would go on to win many battles in this Franco-Mexican War, Mexico's triumph against the larger and better-equipped army was a huge morale booster—and remains a point of pride to this day.

It’s a bigger deal here than in Mexico

In the United States, Cinco de Mayo is associated with tequila-soaked revelry and taco specials. That's not the case in most of Mexico. The anniversary of the Battle of Puebla remains historically significant, but it's not a nationwide St. Patrick's Day-level party event.

But it is huge in Puebla

Unsurprisingly, Puebla is Mexico's main hotspot for Cinco de Mayo celebrations. Over 300,000 visitors have descended on the 500-year-old city in years past, according to The Guardian, to attend a huge parade and watch a battle re-enactment at the original site.

L.A. has the largest celebration

Downtown Los Angeles's annual Fiesta Broadway began in 1990, and it's billed as "the largest Cinco de Mayo celebration in the country." In 2020, the event has been postponed until June 14th.

Mole de poblano is a traditional treat

Puebla actually has a rep as a major food destination, with cuisine influenced by its position between the Gulf Coast and Mexico City. Two-for-one tacos are great, but for a truly authentic experience, try some chicken or turkey smothered in mole poblano. Legend has it that a convent of nuns invented the reddish-brown sauce in the 1600s, and the concoction is a complex mix that includes chiles, spices, seeds, nuts, and a touch of chocolate.

This stuffed pepper dish was also credited to resourceful nuns, invented in 1821 for a military chieftan's visit to Puebla. A poblano pepper is stuffed with picadillo—a mixture of ground meat, tomato, almonds, raisins, and cinnamon—and covered with a creamy walnut sauce and topped with pomegranate seeds. The red, green, and white result is a tribute to the colors of the Mexican flag.

Chiles en Nogado is also on the menu

This stuffed pepper dish was also credited to resourceful nuns, invented in 1821 for a military chieftan's visit to Puebla. A poblano pepper is stuffed with picadillo—a mixture of ground meat, tomato, almonds, raisins, and cinnamon—and covered with a creamy walnut sauce and topped with pomegranate seeds. The red, green, and white result is a tribute to the colors of the Mexican flag.

FDR helped bring this holiday here

Roosevelt's "Good Neighbor Policy," an initiative meant to foster better relations with Latin American countries, raised U.S. awareness of the holiday in 1933.

1960s Chicano movement embraced the day

The Chicano rights movement, which galvanized Mexican-American activists during the American civil rights movement, were early adopters of Cinco de Mayo. Places with strong Mexican communities, such as Colorado and California, held parades in the 1960s and 1970s that used the holiday to salute their cultural heritage.

Beer companies helped make the day what it is today

In the late 1980s, Cinco de Mayo veered away from being a genuine homage to Mexican culture in the U.S., and became the cerveza-slinging occasion we think of today. As Vinepair recounts, regional importers of Corona and Grupo Modelo released a Cinco de Mayo-themed ad in 1989. You can watch a now-hilarious 1989 Corona commercial on YouTube, which literally explains that the holiday exists—and that you, too, can celebrate it by drinking beer with a lime slice.

Traditional Mexican dresses worn in parades

Cinco de Mayo parades across the U.S., such as Detroit's 56-year-old event, feature participants wearing outfits indigenous to various regions of Mexico. These include brightly-colored skirts, traditional Tehuana dresses, and embroidered puebla dresses.

Piñatas are decorations and a game

At parades and backyard parties across the U.S., cracking open a piñata—a toy typically made of papier-mâché, and filled with candy or trinkets—is a big hit at birthday parties and Cinco de Mayo alike. The original piñatas were actually made of clay, and the tradition has roots in both European and Aztec culture.

It’s not a federal holiday in Mexico

President Benito Juarez declared Cinco de Mayo a national holiday in 1867, after reassuming power as the country's leader. However, it's not a federal holiday in Mexico today—so schools, banks, and offices stay open.

Skulls have nothing but do with it

While sugar skulls and colorfully-painted skulls are iconic parts of Mexican culture, they're a part of a very different holiday: Día del Muertos, or the Day of the Dead. Falling on November 1, it's a time when people honor deceased loved ones in traditions dating back to the time of the Aztecs.

As Tom McKay writes in Mic, "Wearing skull makeup on Cinco de Mayo would be like shooting off red, white and blue fireworks on Halloween."

Folks in D.C. hold a chihuahua race

The Running of the Chihuahuas, held annually on Cinco de Mayo weekend, races the dogs named for the Mexican state of Chihuahua. The event, which includes a costume contest, donates entry fees to the Rural Dog Rescue.