More than Beer & Tacos
Every year, Americans celebrate Cinco de Mayo in droves. As they indulge in Coronas, Modelos, and endless plates filled with tacos with well-seasoned proteins and cilantro, we often forget the history behind Cinco de Mayo. Here are 5 things you might not know about Cinco de Mayo:
1. It Is Not a Mexican Holiday
Yeah, I bet you are shocked! Cinco de Mayo isn’t a Mexican public holiday. It’s actually an American holiday. The first ever Cinco de Mayo celebration was held on May 5, 1863, in California, when Mexican miners in the town of Columbia broke into celebration upon receiving news that people were resisting French occupancy in Mexico. As Americans appropriated this “holiday,” Mexicans were fighting to keep the French Foreign Legion from slaughtering their families. Eventually, Mexican immigrants in the US started participating in the celebration, but May 5 isn’t nationally celebrated in Mexico. It is just another day of the week.
2. It Is Not Mexico’s Independence Day
Mexico’s independence is celebrated on September 16. What we celebrate on May 5 is Mexico’s courageous and unexpected victory in the Battle of Puebla, which took place on May 5, 1862. The city of Puebla, a city southeast of Mexico City in east-central Mexico, was under siege and its soldiers were outnumbered. Against all odds (no, not the famous Phil Collins’ song), the Mexicans successfully repelled the French attack and forced a retreat, resulting in fewer than 100 Mexican casualties but about 500 French casualties.
3. They Actually Lost the War
The Mexicans’ success in repelling and killing 500 French soldiers was a one-day victory for the city of Puebla. Like any strategic military power, the French retreated, regrouped, and called in reinforcements, destroying the Mexican army. On May 5th, 1863, one year after Mexico’s mini victory, Mexicans tried to recreate their victory in Puebla, but were unfortunately decimated by the French army, which captured Puebla and installed an Austrian archduke as emperor of Mexico for more than 3 years.
4. The War Was About the U.S.
Napoleon III, the last monarch to reign over France, invaded Mexico to help the Confederate army in the US by distracting Abraham Lincoln with the Second Franco-Mexican War. Napoleon III had hoped to distract the Union, giving the Confederates an upper hand to win the Civil War and become an ally to France. However, once the Civil War ended, the Union secretly sent weapons to the Mexican army, which it used to win back its freedom.
5. The Holiday is a Marketing Ploy for Corona Beer
Before mariachi bands played for Americans downing tequila shots and tacos (a non-Mexican dish, by the way), President Franklin Roosevelt attempted to make Cinco de Mayo an American holiday to improve the US’s relationship with Central/South America as part of his Good Neighbor Policy. However, the holiday didn’t become a national sensation celebrated by sipping Corona beers until 1989, when San Antonio-based importers of Corona realized that it offers a great way to boost sales. The campaign was strategic, with Mexican Americans being the target audience. The ads told Mexican Americans to celebrate Cinco de Mayo with a bottle of Corona. The ad resonated with not only the Latin community, but also Americans, who embraced the opportunity to kick back and have a beer in celebration of a history to which they are oblivious.