…is coming up soon.  Of course, Cinco de Mayo is May Fifth, and it's a time to celebrate, especially for Americans.   Many of us (including myself until recently) believe that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico's Independence Day.  This is fiction.

Mexico actually declared independence from Spain at midnight on September 15, 1810.  Although it actually took until 1821 for the Spanish government and its soldiers to buy in to this new independence and for Mexico to set up its own government.   On Cinco de Mayo we celebrate something that happened over fifty years later…

A history lesson…

It was tough going for the new country, and Mexico had to borrow from various European nations to get by.  When Mexico began having problems making its loan payments to France, Napoleon decided to invade.  He sought either money or land as compensation.

The initial invasion attempt occurred during the American Civil War in 1862.  Sources say that Napoleon sent a well-equipped army of around 6,500 (or as many as 8,000 if you trust websites that may be prone to exaggeration.)  They entered the country along the gulf coast, and they had to pass through the City of Puebla to get to Mexico City, which was their destination.   They were met there by a poorly outfitted militia of approximately 5,000 Mexicans (or 4,000 if you're producing a movie or writing a sensational story.   The two-to-one ratio just seems more fitting even if it might be fiction.)

This Battle of Puebla was fought on May Fifth of 1862.  The Mexicans fought for their country with all their hearts, and they actually won.   So, Cinco de Mayo commemorates this great victory.  (Unfortunately, the victory was short-lived.  Napoleon sent more troops and installed Maximilian as ruler of Mexico.   But, his rule too was short-lived, and Benito Juarez installed a legitimate government five years later.)

So, you would think that people all over Mexico celebrate this great victory.  If so many Americans are celebrating, then Mexicans must really be celebrating.  Wrong.  Cinco de Mayo is certainly celebrated in the Mexican State of Puebla, where the battle was fought, and it is certainly a proud date in Mexican history.

But, Cinco de Mayo is not the Mexican Independence Day, nor is it as widely celebrated throughout Mexico as it is in the United States.   People in the U.S. need reasons to celebrate-constantly, and fortunately bars, restaurants, and greeting card companies are successful in finding all kinds of excuses.  Cinco de Mayo is just one of those excuses.   So, please do celebrate on May fifth.  Our economy depends on it.