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The History of Cinco de Mayo
May 5 is Cinco de Mayo! No matter how you plan to celebrate attend a parade, eat Mexican food with friends, or simply break out the tequila Cinco de Mayo has truly become a day of festivities in America. But here's a question for all the celebrators out there: Do you actually know what you're celebrating? If you think Cinco de Mayo commemorates Mexican Independence Day, you have fallen victim to notorious Cinco de Mayo historical confusion.
According to History.com, many people outside of Mexico confuse Cinco de Mayo with Mexican Independence Day, which, for the record, is September 16th. Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of the Mexican army's amazing victory over France at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. The battle was part of the Franco-Mexican war and is particularly special because the Mexicans were outnumbered and much less prepared than the French soldiers. The French eventually withdrew, however, and although the battle did not end the war, it represented a major victory for Mexico and helped ignite a stronger resistance movement against the French.
While Cinco de Mayo is recognized across Mexico, it is most celebrated in the state of Puebla, where the battle took place hundreds of years ago. Yet for most of Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is not thought of as a major holiday and it is not a federally recognized day. Festivities are actually more popular in the U.S., despite the fact that the basis for the holiday is a Mexican battle. In America, Cinco de Mayo commemorates Mexican culture and was first celebrated as early as the Civil War. The day was popularized on a national scale during the 1960s because of awareness raised by Chicano activists. It is also thought that America identified with the victory of the Mexican army over European invaders.
Festivities in the United States include parades, mariachi music, Mexican-style dancing, and, of course, Mexican food and drinks. Many Americans celebrate with Americanized Mexican foods, such as tacos, burritos, chips, salsa, and guacamole. Margaritas, also widely associated with Mexican culture, are often a part of the American Cinco de Mayo festivities and tequila in general tends to play a role.
Interestingly, more traditional Cinco de Mayo celebrations actually feature different foods. Celebrations that truly take into account the Battle of Puebla often feature food customary in the state of Puebla. What's the most traditional dish in Puebla? Mole poblano.
Mole is a traditional Mexican sauce, and while there are many versions, the most common is red or brown, typically served over meat. According to Puebla-Mexico.com, the common factor in the sauce is usually chili peppers but the spiciness of the sauce varies from cook to cook. Mole poblano is rumored to date back to the 17th century, around 200 years before the Battle of Puebla. Legend states that the savory sauce was invented by nuns at the Santa Rosa convent who prepared it for a visiting Archbishop, using over 20 ingredients in the process. So if you're celebrating Cinco de Mayo this year, perhaps try adding mole poblano to your list of foods to make or eat for the festivities.
Do you celebrate Cinco de Mayo? What foods do you usually eat for the occasion?
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