Why is Cinco de Mayo a bigger deal in the U.S. than in Mexico? Here's the explanation
Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico's victory at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. While the holiday is important in Puebla, it is more widely celebrated in the U.S. as a celebration of Mexican culture.
Cinco de Mayo is often mistaken for Mexico's Independence Day, but it actually commemorates the Mexican army's victory over French forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.
While the holiday holds importance for Mexicans, especially in the Puebla region, it has evolved into a much larger celebration in the U.S. than in Mexico itself. Here's what you need to know about Cinco de Mayo, its history, and why it’s such a significant day for Americans.
Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day
While it is still a date with much historical importance, Cinco de Mayo does not have anything to do with Mexico's Independence Day. Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexican victory over the French army at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.
While Mexico came out victorious, it did not stop the French from its ambitions in Mexico, as they would eventually come back and take control of Mexico City in 1863.
Why the U.S. celebrates Cinco de Mayo more than Mexico?
While it is still celebrated in Mexico, it is not as popular as in the United States. This holiday became widely known in America, thanks to the Mexican-American community during the Chicano Movement of the 1960s and 1970s, becoming a symbol of pride and resistance.
Over the years, the holiday became heavily commercialized in the U.S. by food, beverage, and retail industries; and is now more recognized as a major economic event, where business promote better deals.
