FACTS ABOUT CINCO DE MAYO (AND WHAT IT’S NOT)

History of the celebration

The U.S. has celebrated Cinco de Mayo since the end of the Franco-Mexico and U.S. civil wars. In the beginning, Latinos in California and the other parts of the U.S. celebrated Cinco de Mayo with parades in which people dressed in Civil War uniforms and gave speeches on the Battle of Puebla. In the 1970s, the celebration evolved into political protests of police brutality and discrimination against Hispanics. Now, the date is embraced more generally in the same way as other ethnic celebrations such as St. Patrick’s Day, Mardi Gras and Octoberfest.

Not an independence day

Cinco de Mayo isn’t Mexico’s Independence Day. Mexico’s equivalent of the Fourth of July is 16 de Septiembre (Sept. 16).

It’s a workday in Mexico

In many parts of Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is a workday. The date commemorates an outnumbered — 2,000 to 6,000 — Mexican army’s 1862 victory over French soldiers at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. However, that one successful battle didn’t drive the French out of Mexico. The French wouldn’t announce their withdrawal from Mexico until January 1866.

Texas connection

A Texan led those outnumbered troops in Puebla. Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín, a 33-yearold officer from the Goliad area, was Mexico’s minister of war and navy and was assigned to lead the Army of the East and the defense of Puebla.

Where to celebrate

Looking to celebrate Cinco de Mayo? We’ve got you covered: Visit www.austin360.com/thingsto-do for dining and entertainment options.