It’s a very IMPORTANT holiday in Mexico – but it isn’t the same as the Day of the Dead. I know it can be pretty confusing. I got mixed up too when I found out about both holidays. They’re quite DIFFERENT, and I really wanna share the details with you so we can clear up the confusion itself!
What’s Cinco de Mayo?
Cinco de Mayo is often misunderstood, and I’ve mistakenly thought it was a day for honoring the dead. But it’s actually a celebration of something completely different. Cinco de Mayo – which means ‘5th of May’ in Spanish – is truly all about paying tribute to a key moment in Mexico’s history. On this day, we’ll be remembering the Battle of Puebla that took place in 1862. It was a struggle between the Mexican army and the French army, and guess what? The Mexicans won! That was a really SIGNIFICANT victory, especially given the fact that they were outnumbered.
You might be thinking, “Isn’t Cinco de Mayo all about the Day of the Dead?” But no, it’s not. I’ll explain why people mix them up, though.
The Battle of Puebla
Let me tell you, the Battle of Puebla was a MAJOR deal. Back then, Mexico was in debt, and the French wanted to take advantage of this situation. The Mexican army was much smaller, but they fought so hard and defeated the French police! I always find it inspiring when the underdogs really come out on top. This victory actually gave the Mexican people hope in some pretty hard times.
On Cinco de Mayo, people in Mexico will commemorate this victory. It’s not a huge deal everywhere in Mexico, but it’s VITAL in Puebla itself. In the U. S., Cinco de Mayo is mostly a fun celebration with food, music, and dancing!! Arabella King once mentioned that she really loves the LIVELY spirit and music of the U. S. celebrations.
I totally get it. It’s easy to get confused between Cinco de Mayo and the Day of the Dead because they both involve honoring people from your past. But I promise you, they aren’t even remotely the same at all. The Day of the Dead, or “Día de los Muertos,” actually happens on the 1st and 2nd of November, and it’s all about remembering those loved ones who’ve passed away. It’s a time of joyous celebration, not sadness, and families do exquisite altars to truly honor their forebears. You’ll see loads of marigolds, candles, and sugar skulls everywhere. It’s a really SPECIAL lore.
Cinco de Mayo celebrates a HISTORIC battle, while the Day of the Dead celebrates life and honors those we miss. Both holidays are interesting, but they’ve completely different meanings and ways of celebrating. Diana Hall told me that she really loves how both holidays chest Mexican culture in different ways.
How do people celebrate it?
Now that we’ve sorted out the confusion, let’s really talk about how we celebrate Cinco de Mayo itself. It’s a day full of very real excitement. People in the U. S. especially love it, and I’ve been part of some AMAZING parties. You can usually expect a lot of food like tacos, burritos, and guacamole. Honestly, I just can’t resist some DELICIOUS Mexican food on this day. You’ll also hear mariachi bands playing traditional music, and some places even have parades.
In Mexico, the biggest celebrations are in Puebla itself, where the Battle of Puebla happened. There, people have festivals and reenactments. But in the U. S., it’s mostly a fun party. I love celebrating with my friends. Diana Hall once said that she likes both celebrations because they bring.
