Here in the United States, we get excited about Cinco de Mayo. It seem like a good reason as any to drink margaritas and eat tacos. This year, prepare to be the smartest person in the room when you share these five facts about Cinco de Mayo.
Cinco de Mayo is NOT Mexican Independence Day
September 16 is Mexican Independence Day, a day commemorating the moment when Father Hidalgo, a priest and leader, called for Mexico’s liberation from Spain in September of 1810. For this reason, Cinco de Mayo is not nearly as popular a holiday in Mexico as El Grito de la Independencia is in September.
The Holiday Celebrates a Much Smaller Military Victory
May 5th is the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla in 1862. The guerilla troops of General Ignacio Seguin Zaragoza fought off Napoleon’s troops during the Franco-Mexican War (1861-1867). This victory was an unexpected one for the Mexican soldiers. It was a decisive win against the French invaders.
Cinco de Mayo in America Was a Political Move
To improve relations with Latin American countries and communities, President Franklin D. Roosevelt enacted the “Good Neighbor Policy”. It was under this policy that Cinco de Mayo began to pick up steam in the 1950s and 60s, eventually becoming a national holiday.
Los Angeles Typically Has a Bigger Cinco de Mayo Celebration than Puebla does.
Most major streets in L.A. are blocked off to host hundreds of thousands of people celebrating Mexican heritage with food, music, dancing, and crafts. The party is called Fiesta Broadway and has been a huge celebration since the 1990s.
Mole Poblano is THE Authentic Cinco de Mayo Dish
If you want to do Cinco de Mayo right, put down the taco. The traditional dish eaten in the town of Puebla on their big holiday is mole poblano (pronounced with the emphasis on the second syllable, like guacamole).
Invented in the late 17th century, mole is a thick sauce made with chocolate, chili peppers, and other spices. Traditionally, the sauce covers succulent turkey legs. Yummy.
You can find a recipe for it here:
https://www.seriouseats.com/mole-poblano-recipe-how-to-make-mole
