Why do we celebrate Cinco de Mayo?

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo in the Bay Area is less a holiday than a roaming mood—part history lesson, part street party, part excuse to order something with fresh lime in it. While the date commemorates Mexico’s 1862 victory at the Battle of Puebla, around here it has evolved into a broader celebration of Mexican culture, music, […]

Why do we celebrate Cinco de Mayo?

Cinco de Mayo, or May 5th, falls on Tuesday this year. Although it is often mistaken as Mexico’s Independence Day, it actually commemorates the Mexican army’s victory over the French army at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. The origins of what we call Cinco de Mayo can be traced back to the mid-19th century when Mexico was struggling with economic woes and political instability. At the time, Mexico had incurred significant debt to European c…