Cinco de Mayo
The Battle of Puebla.
Observed by	Mexican people People of Mexican ancestry
Type	multinational
Date	May 5
Observances	Regional celebration in Mexico of battle victory. Celebration in the United States of Mexican American culture and experiences. Food, music, folkloric dancing

Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for "5th of May") is a regional holiday in Mexico, primarily celebrated in the state of Puebla. It is not an obligatory federal holiday.^{[1][2][3][4][5]} The holiday commemorates an initial victory of Mexican forces led by General Ignacio Zaragoza over French forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. The date is observed in the United States and other locations around the world as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride. Image File history File linksMetadata BattleofPuebla2. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... is the 125th day of the year (126th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The ethnonym Mexican-American describes United States citizens of Mexican ancestry (14 million in 2003) and Mexican citizens who reside in the US (10 million in 2003). ... The Mexican state of Puebla is located in the center of the country, to the east of Mexico City. ... Ignacio Zaragoza Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín (March 24, 1829 – September 8, 1862) was a general in the Mexican Army, best known for his 1862 victory against the French invading forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5 (the Cinco de Mayo). ... Belligerents United Mexican States Second French Empire Commanders Ignacio Zaragoza Charles de Lorencez Strength 4,500 soldiers, mostly veterans of the Reform Wars 1857-1860, include Zappadores, Infantry, Cavalry and 18 guns in 3 batteries of artillery. ... is the 125th day of the year (126th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about 1862 . ...

A common misconception in the United States is that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico's Independence Day; Mexico's Independence Day is actually September 16 (dieciséis de septiembre in Spanish), which is the most important national patriotic holiday in Mexico. Statue of Miguel Hidalgo in front of church, Dolores Hidalgo, Guanajuato The Grito de Dolores was the call for insurrection against the authorities of Mexico given by Miguel Hidalgo on September 16, 1810, in the town of Dolores, near Guanajuato. ... is the 259th day of the year (260th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

History

In 1861, Mexico had stopped making interest payments on loans that it had received earlier. In response, in late 1861, France (and other European countries) attacked Mexico to try to force payment of this debt. France decided that it would try to take over and occupy Mexico. France was successful at first in its invasion; however, on May 5, 1862, at the city of Puebla, Mexican forces were able to defeat an attack by the larger French army. In this Battle of Puebla, the Mexicans were led by General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín. Although the Mexican army was victorious over the French at Puebla, the victory only delayed the French advance on Mexico City; a year later, the French occupied Mexico. The French occupying forces placed Maximilian I, Emperor of Mexico on the throne of Mexico. The French were eventually defeated and expelled in 1867. Maximilian was executed by President Benito Juarez, five years after the Battle of Puebla. Belligerents Second French Empire Second Mexican Empire United Mexican States and some Latin American Allies Strength 38,493 French soldiers, 7,000 Austro-Hungarian volunteers, 2,000 Belgian volunteers ~80,000 Casualties and losses 6,654 French killed and wounded 12,000 Mexican killed and wounded Emperor Maximilian I of... Nickname: Location of Mexico City Coordinates: , Country Federal entity Boroughs The 16 delegaciones Founded c. ... Maximilian I, Emperor of Mexico (Emperador Maximiliano I de México) (July 6, 1832 – June 19, 1867) (born Ferdinand Maximilian Joseph) was a member of Austrias Imperial Habsburg-Lorraine family. ... Benito Ju rez (March 21, 1806 - July 18, 1872) was a Zapotec Indian who served two terms (1861-1863 and 1867-1872) as President of Mexico. ...

History of observance

Cinco de Mayo dancers greeted by Pres. Bush.

According to a paper published by the UCLA Center for the Study of Latino Health and Culture about the origin of the observance of Cinco de Mayo in the United States, the modern American focus on that day first started in California in the 1860s in response to the resistance to French rule in Mexico.^[6] The 2007 paper notes that "The holiday, which has been celebrated in California continuously since 1863, is virtually ignored in Mexico."^[6] President George W. Bush greets dancers before their performance during Cinco De Mayo festivities at the White House Friday, May 4, 2001. ... President George W. Bush greets dancers before their performance during Cinco De Mayo festivities at the White House Friday, May 4, 2001. ...

Observances

Mexico

is primarily a regional holiday in Mexico, celebrated in the state of Puebla. There is some limited recognition of the holiday in other parts of the country.^[7] For the most part the celebrations combine food, music and dancing.

In Mexico City like the rest of the Mexican capitals all the young men who serve the military services pledge allegiance to the Mexican national flag and the institutions that it represents. Nickname: Location of Mexico City Coordinates: , Country Federal entity Boroughs The 16 delegaciones Founded c. ...

Cinco de Mayo performers at the White House.

For other uses, see White House (disambiguation). ...

United States

In the United States, Cinco de Mayo has taken on a significance beyond that in Mexico.^{[6][8][9][10]} The date is perhaps best recognized in the United States as a date to celebrate the culture and experiences of Americans of Mexican ancestry, much as St. Patrick's Day, Oktoberfest, and the Chinese New Year are used to celebrate those of Irish, German, and Chinese ancestry respectively. Similar to those holidays, Cinco de Mayo is observed by many Americans regardless of ethnic origin. Celebrations tend to draw both from traditional Mexican symbols, such as the Virgen de Guadalupe, and from prominent figures of Mexican descent in the United States, including César Chávez.^[11] To celebrate, many display Cinco de Mayo banners while school districts hold special events to educate pupils about its historical significance. Special events and celebrations highlight Mexican culture, especially in its music and regional dancing. Examples include ballet folklórico and mariachi demonstrations held annually at the Plaza del Pueblo de Los Angeles, near Olvera Street. Commercial interests in the United States have capitalized on the celebration, advertising Mexican products and services, with an emphasis on beverages,^[12] foods, and music.^[13][14] The ethnonym Mexican-American describes United States citizens of Mexican ancestry (14 million in 2003) and Mexican citizens who reside in the US (10 million in 2003). ... St. ... For the beer, see Oktoberfestbier. ... For other traditions of celebrating lunar new year, see Lunar New Year. ... Our Lady of Guadalupe Our Lady of Guadalupe or the Virgin of Guadalupe is a Roman Catholic icon and arguably Mexicos most popular image: Nobel laureate Octavio Paz is quoted as saying that the Mexican people, after more than two centuries of experiments, have faith only in the Virgin... César Estrada Chávez (March 31, 1927 – April 23, 1993), born in Yuma, Arizona, was an American farm worker of Mexican descent, labor leader, and civil rights activist who, with Dolores Huerta, co-founded the National Farm Workers Association, which later became the United Farm Workers. ... School districts are a form of special-purpose district in the United States (amongst some other places) which serves to operate the local public primary and secondary schools. ... A woman dancing folklórico in the traditional dress of Jalisco Baile folklórico, literally folk dance, is a collective term for traditional Latin American dances that emphasize local folk culture. ... This article is about the Mexican musical genre and ensemble. ... The recorded history of Los Angeles, California is a complicated one, going back to the 16th century and a tiny Spanish settlement sometimes called Bahía de los fumos (Bay of the Smokes). // Historical population growth At the end of 2004, the population is estimated to be 3,912,200. ... Olvera Street Market in December, 2005 Olvera Street is in the oldest part of Downtown Los Angeles, California, and is otherwise known as the birthplace of the City of Angels or El Pueblo de Los Angeles Historic Monument and is a department within the city. ...

Elsewhere

Cinco de Mayo celebration in St. Paul, MN.

Events tied to Cinco de Mayo also occur outside Mexico and the United States. For example, a sky-diving club near Vancouver in Canada holds a Cinco de Mayo skydiving event.^[15] In the Cayman Islands, in the Caribbean, there is an annual Cinco de Mayo air guitar competition.^[16] As far away as the island of Malta, in the Mediterranean, revelers are encouraged to drink Mexican beer on May 5th.^[17]
State capitol building in Saint Paul Saint Paul is the capital and second-largest city of the state of Minnesota in the United States of America. ... For other uses, see Vancouver (disambiguation). ... West Indies redirects here. ... It is believed that air guitar possibly originated from early Iron Maiden fans in the late 1970s. ... The Mediterranean Sea is an intercontinental sea positioned between Europe to the north, Africa to the south and Asia to the east, covering an approximate area of 2. ...

Popular culture references

• In Isis (song) Isis marries on 5th of May

Isis is the second track on the Bob Dylan album Desire. ...

See also

• History of Mexico
• Mexican Independence Day
• French intervention in Mexico
• Napoleon III
• Maximilian I

Mexico is a country in North America and the largest Spanish-speaking country in the world. ... This article is about The Fiestas Patrias of Mexico. ... Belligerents Second French Empire Second Mexican Empire United Mexican States and some Latin American Allies Strength 38,493 French soldiers, 7,000 Austro-Hungarian volunteers, 2,000 Belgian volunteers ~80,000 Casualties and losses 6,654 French killed and wounded 12,000 Mexican killed and wounded Emperor Maximilian I of... This article is about the President of the French Republic and Emperor of the French. ... Maximilian I, Emperor of Mexico (Emperador Maximiliano I de México) (July 6, 1832 – June 19, 1867) (born Ferdinand Maximilian Joseph) was a member of Austrias Imperial Habsburg-Lorraine family. ...

References

External links

• National Cinco de Mayo Festival is held every year in Washington, DC, hosted by the Maru Montero Dance Company.