Celebrating Cinco de Mayo: the Battle of Puebla in 1862
Cinco de Mayo is celebrated more widely in the United States than in Mexico! The holiday–commemorating an 1862 battle where an underdog group of 2,000 indigenous Mexicans defeated 6,000 French invader troops, against all odds, in the city of Puebla–gained popularity in the USA in the 1960s when Chicano activists encouraged public Cinco de Mayo celebrations in cities like Los Angeles, Houston, and New York. The holiday is symbolic of the Mexican resistance during the Franco-Mexican War.
The 116th Street Cinco de Mayo Festival, the Grand Central Terminal Street Fair, the Sunset Park Parade, and the Hester Street Fair are some of many ways New Yorkers can enjoy Cinco de Mayo this year. With outdoor food stands, folklore, performances and artisan goods, NYC’s streets are filled with celebratory nods to Mexican culture. And though celebrations are most prominent in cities with major Mexican populations, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated with art, music, food, and drinks across the United States…And, speaking of margaritas: Inside Out Tours offers virtual Margarita-Making Parties and themed interactive mixology classes. Reserve spots now for the beverage enthusiast, the storyteller, the history buff, and the person in your life who could thrive at a virtual Trivia Night.
Appropriately celebrating a holiday means knowing the story. Sometimes it’s falsely believed that Cinco de Mayo is Mexican Independence Day (nope! That’s on September 16th and is a much more significant Federal Holiday in Mexico!) but now you know: the Battle of Puebla, on May 5 1862, was an incredible victory for Mexico under President Benito Juรกrez. Today in Puebla, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated with military parades and re-enactments. And as you celebrate Cinco de Mayo this year, dazzle, your friends with your understanding of its history and your exceptional margarita-making skills.