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El Cinco de Mayo ("The Fifth of May" in Spanish) is a national celebration in Mexico and widely celebrated in the United States. It commemorates the victory of Mexican forces led by General Ignacio Zaragoza over the French occupational forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

It is a common misconception that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico's Independence Day, which is celebrated on the 16th of September, but actually it is a celebration of a legendary battle.

Cinco de Mayo celebrates the legendary Battle of Puebla, Mexico on May 5, 1862 in which a Mexican force of 4,500 men faced 6,000 men of the ominous and well trained forces of Napoleon III's French Army. The battle lasting all of four hours ended in a moral and physical victory for the Mexican Army under the 33 year old General Ignacio Zaragoza.

Understandably, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated vigorously in the state of Puebla, Mexico. There are some observances across Mexico in varying degrees, but none that matches the celebrations in Puebla. For the most part these observances focus on food and drink mixed with music and dancing.

In the United States, much like St. Patrick's Day, Cinco de Mayo is observed by many Americans regardless of ethnic origins, particularly along the border states where there is a large Mexican population. The largest of these celebrations are found in the larger cities such as Los Angeles, California; San Antonio, Texas; Houston, Texas; and Salt Lake City, Utah. Although it is no more an officially recognized holiday than St. Patrick's Day in the United States, many cities display Cinco de Mayo banners while school districts hold special events to educate students about its historical significance, especially in the Spanish language classes. Commercial interests in the United States and Mexico have capitalized on the celebration with advertising for products and services with an emphasis on foods, beverages, and music. To balance that, however, many multi-ethnic communities hold special events and celebrations which highlight the Mexican culture, especially in its music and regional dancing. A fair example of this would be the ballet folklórico and mariachi demonstrations held annually at the Plaza del Pueblo de Los Angeles near Olvera Street. However, some Mexicans, both in Mexico and in the United States, reject all celebration of Cinco de Mayo, regarding it as essentially a North American commercial contrivance rather than an authentically Mexican event.

Cinco de Mayo is a date of great importance for the Mexican and Chicano communities. It marks the victory of the Mexican Army over the French at the Battle of Puebla. Althought the Mexican army was eventually defeated, the "Batalla de Puebla" came to represent a symbol of Mexican unity and patriotism. With this victory, Mexico demonstrated to the world that Mexico and all of Latin America were willing to defend themselves of any foreign intervention. Especially those from imperialist states bent on world conquest.

Cinco de Mayo's history has its roots in the French Occupation of Mexico. The French occupation took shape in the aftermath of the Mexican-American War of 1846-48. With this war, Mexico entered a period of national crisis during the 1850's. Years of not only fighting the Americans but also a Civil War, had left Mexico devastated and bankrupt. On July 17, 1861, President Benito Juarez issued a moratorium in which all foreign debt payments would be suspended for a brief period of two years, with the promise that after this period, payments would resume.

The English, Spanish and French refused to allow president Juarez to do this, and instead decided to invade Mexico and get payments by whatever means necessary. The Spanish and English eventually withdrew, but the French refused to leave. Their intention was to create an Empire in Mexico under Napoleon III. Some have argued that the true French occupation was a response to growing American power and to the Monroe Doctrine (America for the Americans). Napoleon III believed that if the United States was allowed to prosper indescriminantly, it would eventually become a power in and of itself.

In 1862, the French army began its advance. Under General Ignacio Zaragoza, 5,000 ill-equipped Mestizo and Zapotec Indians defeated the French army in what came to be known as the "Batalla de Puebla" on the fifth of May.

In the United States, the "Batalla de Puebla" came to be known as simply "5 de Mayo" and unfortunately, many people wrongly equate it with Mexican Independence which was on September 16, 1810, nearly a fifty year difference. Over, the years Cinco de Mayo has become very commercialized and many people see this holiday as a time for fun and dance. Oddly enough, Cinco de Mayo has become more of Chicano holiday than a Mexican one. Cinco de Mayo is celebrated on a much larger scale here in the United States than it is in Mexico. People of Mexican descent in the United States celebrate this significant day by having parades, mariachi music, folklorico dancing and other types of festive activities.