What You Need to Know About Cinco De Mayo
Cinco de Mayo may not be what you think it is.
Firstly, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day nor is it the Day of the Dead. Mexico’s Independence Day falls on September 16th and celebrates a priest’s ringing of a church bell in Dolores, Mexico, that triggered the War of Independence apart from Spain in 1810. Additionally, Dia de Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, is a three day holiday in remembrance of friends and family that have passed that takes place October 31st to November 2nd.
Contrary to these misguided misconceptions, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated by Mexican-Americans in the United States as well as in Mexicans in Puebla, for the victory over the Battle of Puebla that occurred May 5, 1862. This does not take away from the purpose of this U.S./Mexican holiday; rather it is something to be aware of in understanding what is being celebrated. It is a perfect day to celebrate Mexican businesses and people, without appropriating Mexican culture.
Social media influencer and beauty guru Kandee Johnson tweeted out this as a reminder:
Kandee Johnson on Twitter
Contrary to popular belief…did you know that #CincoDeMayo is not Mexican Independence Day? That is September 16th…but Cinco De Mayo basically celebrates defeating The French who had taken over Mexico. Honored to be part Mexican❤️
Hi! I’m Elle, I’m 18 years old and I’m from Seattle, Washington. I am currently enrolled at New York University. I am a huge foodie @ellereviews and I love photography and videography.
