Cinco de Mayo Fun Facts

Cinco de Mayo marks May 5, 1862, when the Mexican army won the Battle of Puebla in the Franco-Mexican War. The holiday has become a celebration of Mexican heritage and culture in the United States.

Here are a few other facts about Cinco de Mayo:

• In Puebla, one of Mexico's 31 states with a capital city of the same name, Cinco de Mayo is known as El Día de la Batalla de Puebla (The Day of the Battle of Puebla).
• While Cinco de Mayo is a national holiday in Mexico, it is mainly observed in Puebla. In the U.S. it has become a popular holiday to celebrate Mexican culture.
• Cinco de Mayo traditions include parades, mariachi music performances and street festivals in cities and towns across Mexico and the U.S.
• May 5 is not, as many people think, Mexico's Independence Day. That holiday takes place on September 16.
• One of the largest Cinco de Mayo events in the country is Fiesta Broadway in Los Angeles.