Celebrating Cinco (5) de Mayo

Every year, thousands of people in the U.S. celebrate Cinco de Mayo, May 5, with guacamole, margaritas and Mexican cuisine. People decorate their homes and businesses with flags, guitars and sombreros. Please join us May 5, 2021 from 1-2 p.m. for a free virtual celebration. 

Did you know that the 5 de mayo celebration is bigger in the U.S than in Mexico itself?

5 de mayo is the celebration of the victory that the Mexican army, lead by Ignacio Zaragoza, had over the French Napoleonic invaders on May 5, 1862.  It was a very important battle, and that is why people mistakenly think that it is Independence Day. Mexican independence celebration is actually on September 16.

Did you know that this was considered the biggest Napoleonic loss in 50 years?

It is widely known that the French Napoleonic army was one of the biggest and strongest armies in history, yet not a lot of people know that Napoleon III himself lost a war against Mexico. He was trying to replace all the land his uncle, Napoleon I decided to sell to Thomas Jefferson in the Louisiana Purchase.

People tend to know their own stories, but they don’t know their neighbors’ stories. Join the Latinos Unidos for College and Higher Achievement (LUCHA) team on May 5 to learn a little bit more about the 5 de mayo celebration.