13 Fun Cinco de Mayo Facts for Kids

We know your kids would love any day dedicated to tacos, burritos, and guac. (Who wouldn't?) But there's so much more to Cinco de Mayo than food—and it's important to know why it's celebrated.

From what Cinco de Mayo means to Mexicans to which foods are the most popular to eat in the state of Puebla on May 5, these Cinco de Mayo facts are the perfect way to introduce the holiday to kids.

1. Cinco de Mayo Isn’t Mexico’s Independence Day

Cinco de Mayo is often confused with Mexican Independence Day. But it actually commemorates a significant battle during the Franco-Mexican War that took place in Puebla.

The Mexican Army, considered the underdogs, overtook the French and emerged victorious. Mexican Independence Day, on the other hand, actually occurred on September 16, 1810—about 50 years earlier.

2. Mexicans Don't Call It Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo translates to the Fifth of May, which is when the holiday is celebrated in Puebla, Mexico, where it originated. However, that's not actually what folks call the holiday there.

Instead, the holiday's official name is El Día de la Batalla de Puebla, which translates to "The Day of the Battle of Puebla" in English.

3. The Mexican Army Beat Unbelievable Odds

The Mexican Army was largely outnumbered and poorly supplied, with only outdated guns. Yet, as few as 2,000 Mexican soldiers—some of whom hid behind tall cactus plants—defeated 6,000 French soldiers during the battle, which lasted from daybreak to early evening.

The Mexican's "rag-tag army" intercepted the superior French army in Puebla as they attempted to make their way to Mexico City, forcing the French to retreat. The French were forced to wait for reinforcements, which took almost a year to arrive.

4. The General Was Honored in a Super Special Way

Ignacio Zaragoza was the Mexican general who led the army that defeated the French on May 5, 1862. He was born in what's now Goliad in southern Texas and was only 33 years old when he led his troops to victory.

Later that same year, President Juárez decreed changing the name of the city of Puebla de los Angeles to Puebla de Zaragoza in his honor. He also made the day a national holiday.

5. Families in California Partied First

A few weeks after the Battle of Puebla, Americans and Latinos in California heard about the valiant efforts of Mexican soldiers through newspaper reports. Residents in the state were so excited that they celebrated with parades of people dressed in Civil War uniforms.

In Northern California, one town partied with drinks, food, and banquets—it was most likely the first Cinco de Mayo fiesta in the United States!

6. FDR Helped Commercialize Cinco de Mayo

Although it was celebrated in the United States just weeks after the Battle of Puebla, Cinco de Mayo didn't gain traction in the US until 1933. That's when President Franklin D. Roosevelt helped create the "Good Neighbor Policy," which aimed to establish positive exchanges and relationships with our Latin American neighbors.

7. Mexico Celebrates the Military on May 5

While Cinco de Mayo is celebrated with tons of food, drinks, and partying in the United States, Mexicans take a slightly different approach. Cinco de Mayo is a minor holiday in Mexico and is primarily celebrated in Puebla. In addition to food and drinks, locals put on a military parade with people dressed as French and Mexican soldiers, cheer on brightly colored floats, and reenact the battle on its original site.

8. It's All About the Mole Sauce

Tacos are a staple at any Cinco de Mayo party in the US, but in Mexico, one meal stands above the rest. The holiday's most beloved dish is mole poblano, a dish that originated in Puebla.

Mole poblano is a sauce with dozens of ingredients, including chili peppers and chocolate served over chicken. To celebrate to the fullest, Puebla hosts the International Mole Festival—a two-day festival where celebrity chefs explain how to create the ultimate mole.

9. Kids Get May 5 off From School—in Mexico, That Is

Cinco de Mayo is not a federal holiday in Mexico, but luckily for children, schools are closed for the day! In 2005, the United States Congress recognized the historical significance of Cinco de Mayo. However, like Mexico, it is not a federal holiday here, so banks, schools, and businesses stay open for the day.

10. The United States Took Everything up a Notch

While Cinco de Mayo is largely a regional holiday in Mexico—mostly celebrated in Puebla—the United States holds coast-to-coast celebrations. This is especially true in cities with a large Mexican American population, like Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Antonio.

Denver's Cinco de Mayo Festival is one of the largest in the US. An estimated 400,000 people attend over two days to participate in parades, carnival rides, and a taco-eating contest.

11. Americans Eat Millions of Avocados on May 5

Since Americans eat plenty of guacamole on Cinco de Mayo, avocado sales boom every year. According to the US Department of Agriculture, Americans eat over 80 million pounds of avocados on Cinco de Mayo alone!

12. Most Festive "Mexican" Foods Enjoyed in the US Aren't Actually Mexican

Did you know that 1 in 10 restaurants in the US serves Mexican food? Cinco de Mayo is a perfect day for these eateries to join in the celebration. But what many Americans think of as Mexican cuisine (e.g., ground beef tacos, nachos, and burritos) is actually "Tex-Mex," a uniquely American culinary blend of popularized Texas foods inspired by the Tejanos people.

13. You Might Hear a Mariachi Band

A mariachi band is a traditional Mexican folk music ensemble that typically includes a line-up of specific instruments, including:

• Violin
• Guitar
• Trumpet
• Vihuela (a 15th-century Spanish stringed instrument)
• Guitarrón (a bass guitar)

Mariachi bands originate from the 18th century and are steeped in revolutionary history, making them a perfect musical accompaniment to celebrate Cinco de Mayo.