Cinco de Mayo, Spanish for ‘the fifth of May’, commemorates the Mexican army’s victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. The next Cinco de Mayo is on Wednesday, May 5, 2027, and the countdown above shows how long until the parades, mariachi music and food begin. One common mix-up to clear up right away: it is not Mexican Independence Day.
The Battle of Puebla
In 1861 Mexico, deeply in debt after years of war, suspended payments to its foreign creditors. France, under Napoleon III, used the default as a reason to invade, hoping to build an empire in the Americas. On May 5, 1862, a smaller and poorly equipped Mexican force under General Ignacio Zaragoza defended the city of Puebla and defeated the French army. The victory did not end the war: French troops took Mexico City the following year and installed Maximilian of Austria as emperor. But Puebla became a lasting symbol of resistance, and France withdrew in 1867.
Cinco de Mayo vs. Mexican Independence Day
- Cinco de Mayo (May 5): remembers a single battle against France in 1862.
- Independence Day (September 16): marks the Grito de Dolores of 1810, the call to arms that began Mexico’s war of independence from Spain. It is the country’s biggest national holiday.
How it is marked in Mexico
In most of Mexico, May 5 is a fairly quiet day and not a federal day off for workers. The big exception is the state of Puebla, where the city stages a large civic and military parade and reenactments of the battle. Elsewhere you may see official ceremonies, but nothing on the scale of the September independence celebrations.
Why it is so big in the United States
Mexican communities in California began marking the victory as early as the 1860s. A century later, Mexican American activists embraced the day as a celebration of identity and heritage, and from the 1980s onward drinks and food brands turned it into a major commercial event. Today cities with large Mexican American communities, from Los Angeles to San Antonio, hold festivals with folklórico dance, live music and street food.
Celebrating with respect
- Learn the history and share it; many guests at a party won’t know about Puebla.
- Cook or order dishes with real roots: mole poblano, which comes from Puebla, is a fitting choice.
- Support local Mexican-owned restaurants, bakeries and artists.
- Skip sombrero-and-mustache costumes, which turn a culture into a caricature.
- Look for a community festival with traditional music and dance.
Planning an event? Show the countdown in full-screen mode or embed it on your event page. You can also follow Mexican Independence Day and Día de los Muertos on Tempoo.