Cinco De Mayo Each year on May 5 , the world turns its attention to a colorful, energetic celebration often mistaken for Mexico’s Independence Day. But Cinco de Mayo , which literally means “ Fifth of May ” in Spanish, has a much more specific origin—and a surprising evolution that reaches far beyond Mexico’s borders. The Real Story Behind Cinco de Mayo Cinco de Mayo commemorates a remarkable military victory in 1862, when a poorly equipped Mexican army led by General Ignacio Zaragoza defeated the powerful French forces at the Battle of Puebla . Though Zaragoza died of illness shortly after, and the French later occupied Mexico City , the win was a major morale boost for the Mexican resistance. The tide eventually turned in Mexico’s favor with the end of the U.S. Civil War. The United States began supplying weapons and aid to Mexico’s Liberal forces, putting immense pressure on the French. By 1866, Napoleon III began withdrawing French troops, and Mexico regained its independence...