Cinco de Mayo falls on May fifth every year, and represents the day that Mexico’s army defeated the French in the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Mexico had been losing the French-Mexican War, and this battle was a major turning point to bring back spirit that the Mexicans had been lacking. Six-thousand French soldiers were defeated by a mere two-thousand Mexican volunteers, and it was just what the Mexican government needed to give the final push to continue on, and eventually get the French to retreat. It is also known as Battle of Puebla Day, and although it is a minor holiday in Mexico, the day has turned into a day of celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, and is popular in areas with lots of Mexican-American populations. 

In the United States, people love to celebrate by dining at their favorite Mexican restaurant, going to a parade, or just making their own Mexican cuisine at home! Try going to Mezcal Mexican Cantina in Worcester MA and try their guac flight to try any three of their specialty guacamoles and be sure to get some churros for dessert. Other great Mexican places include The Brick in Sterling MA, Agave Mexican Grill and Cantina in Marlborough MA, Taco Gato in Hudson MA, and Sobre Mesa in Sudbury MA. They all have amazing options for tacos and other traditional and creative Mexican cuisine. Outside of Central Massachusetts you can try Añejo in Falmouth or Hyannis MA for some of the best mahi mahi tacos around, Lolita in Boston MA for incredible guacamole or Citrus and Salt in Boston MA to try their hearty birria tacos.

Another popular way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo is to attend one of the parades in many major cities in the United States. San Jose and Houston Texas, Denver Colorado, and Portland Oregon host some of the most popular Cinco de Mayo parades in the US, but the biggest and most famous is in none other than the Mexican state of Puebla, where the holiday first originated

However you choose to celebrate your Cinco de Mayo, it is important to remember the reason this holiday exists and pay respects to Mexican history and culture during your festivities, the same as you would for any US holiday.