Britain and Spain negotiated with Mexico and withdrew their forces. France, however, ruled by Napoleon III , decided to use the opportunity to carve an empire out of Mexican territory. Certain that success would come swiftly, 6, French troops under General Charles Latrille de Lorencez set out to attack Puebla de Los Angeles, a small town in east-central Mexico. The vastly outnumbered and poorly supplied Mexicans, led by Texas-born General Ignacio Zaragoza, fortified the town and prepared for the French assault.
On May 5, , Lorencez gathered his army—supported by heavy artillery—before the city of Puebla and led an assault. The battle lasted from daybreak to early evening, and when the French finally retreated they had lost nearly soldiers.
Fewer than Mexicans had been killed in the clash. In —thanks in part to military support and political pressure from the United States, which was finally in a position to aid its besieged neighbor after the end of the Civil War —France finally withdrew.
Puebla de Los Angeles was renamed for General Zaragoza, who died of typhoid fever months after his historic triumph there. Traditions include military parades, recreations of the Battle of Puebla and other festive events. For many Mexicans, however, May 5 is a day like any other: It is not a federal holiday, so offices, banks and stores remain open. In the United States, Cinco de Mayo is widely interpreted as a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in areas with substantial Mexican-American populations.
Today, revelers mark the occasion with parades, parties, mariachi music, Mexican folk dancing and traditional foods such as tacos and mole poblano. Some of the largest festivals are held in Los Angeles , Chicago and Houston. Many people outside Mexico mistakenly believe that Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of Mexican independence, which was declared more than 50 years before the Battle of Puebla. People in the US have also used the holiday as an excuse to eat Mexican-inspired food like tacos, enchiladas, and chile rellenos — though how authentic the food people celebrate with is certainly up for debate.
The festival celebrates mole poblano — a dark, red-brown sauce typical in some Mexican cuisine — with culinary discussions; exhibitions; and tastings from international, national, and regional chefs.
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A leading-edge research firm focused on digital transformation. Cinco de Mayo has roots in Mexico, but it's become more widely celebrated in the US. In Mexico, celebrations are smaller, and the day typically focuses on a military win.
But in the US, the day's festivities have become commercialized and focus on drinking and eating. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. In Mexico, the holiday is pretty much only celebrated regionally. In America, it's become a pretty commercialized affair. Some children get off school for the holiday in Mexico. First of all, it's not Mexico's Independence Day, which is actually celebrated Sept. This was the nephew of the famous Napoleon Bonaparte aka Napoleon I. Mexico had borrowed a lot of money from European countries over the preceding years, and France came to collect and wasn't willing to talk it out.
Oddly — or not, considering Americans' fondness for claiming other countries' holidays as a reason to drink and party — Cinco de Mayo is celebrated much more in the United States than it is in Mexico.
In Mexico, it's not even a federal holiday , and most of the celebratory parades and events are limited to the state of Puebla. In the United States, Cinco de Mayo is usually marked with parades and celebrations of Mexican culture, culminating with the consumption of lots of Mexican food and margaritas.
And as much as you think it would look "cute" or "funny," don't wear a sombrero. A success with many parents: Having a margarita on Cinco de Mayo?
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