Why Do Mexicans Celebrate Cinco de Mayo?
Cinco de Mayo celebrates the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.
This is when the Mexican Army was able to defeat the occupied French army after being unable to pay their foreign debt right away after the Mexican Civil War from 1857-1860.
May 5th is not Mexican Independence Day. Mexico became independent from Spain on September 15, 1810. Cinco de Mayo celebrates the victory of the Mexican army over the French at the battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. The fact that the heavily outnumbered Mexican army fought for victory and won is what all the fuss is about. Mexicans are proud of this day and celebrate it every May 5th. The History of the Piñata There are many stories about the piñata’s history (some say it was invented by Native Mexicans while others say it originated in Italy during the Renaissance). The most popular story is that it was invented by the Chinese. To celebrate the New Year, they would make figures of cows, oxen or buffalo covered with colored paper and filled with seeds. When Marco Polo learned about this Chinese custom, he brought it back to Europe where it became associated with Lent (the 40-day period from Ash Wednesday to Easter observed by Christians). The Italian word ‘pignatta’ means “fragile pot. W
