Cinco de Mayo—a huge day for festivities, especially in the U.S., but not so much in Mexico! This day marks Mexico’s surprising victory over the formidable Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. While every Mexican town and city holds an official ceremony, it’s not actually a public holiday in Mexico, and the locals don’t really celebrate it.
However, across the border, Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a massive celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, thanks largely to extensive advertising campaigns by beer, wine, and tequila companies starting in the 1980s. Remember, it’s not Mexico’s Independence Day—that’s September 16. So, raise your glass, but remember what you’re toasting to!
