Even Cinco De Mayo is tied to Juneteenth, Collins said. On May 5, 1862, a Mexican army defeated French forces in the Battle of Puebla.

Puebla is a city of museums and history, so we sent our local expert to hunt down the one you need to visit the most.

Cinco de Mayo, literally translated as "the fifth of May," celebrates the Mexican victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla, which took place on May 5, 1862.

Cinco de Mayo was celebrated on Monday, May 5 — and through the preceding weekend — around Southern California, commemorating the historic victory in 1862 by a Mexican militia of 4,500 men who ...

Cinco de Mayo marks the anniversary of the 1862 victory by Mexican troops over invading French forces at the Battle of Puebla. In the United States the date is seen as a celebration of Mexican ...

But it’s quiet.” Cinco de Mayo — often confused with Mexican Independence Day, which is Sept. 16 — commemorates Mexico’s victory over the French in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.

The yearly celebration commemorates the military victory of the Mexican army, who against all odds, defeated invading French forces at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.

Cinco de Mayo honors the 1862 Battle of Puebla. While it is not widely celebrated in Mexico, in the United States, Cinco de Mayo has become an observance of Mexican culture and heritage ...

What is Cinco de Mayo? Cinco de Mayo marks the anniversary of the 1862 victory by Mexican troops over invading French forces at the Battle of Puebla.

As communities celebrate with music, food, and tradition, local historians remind us that Cinco de Mayo marks the 1862 Battle of Puebla—an enduring symbol of resilience and cultural pride.

People participate in a reenactment of the Battle of Puebla during a Cinco de Mayo celebration in Mexico City, Monday, May 5, 2025.

Yet, for the record, May 5 isn’t the same as Mexican Independence Day. Instead, it celebrates Mexico’s victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebla in 1862.