History Behind Cinco De Mayo. Are you celebrating cinco de mayo? Mexico's victory is said to have prevented napoleon from acting on his intent to aid the confederacy during the civil war.
Cinco de mayo, or may 5, is recognized around the country as a time to celebrate mexico's cultural heritage.
Juárez, recognizing the propaganda value of a victory over the french, immediately proclaimed cinco de mayo a national holiday, and for good measure, renamed puebla for zaragoza (the change didn't stick, and zaragoza died of typhus four months after the battle). Cinco de mayo is seen today as a celebration of mexican heritage and culture across the united states, but hardly anyone knows the facts about this day and why it is celebrated. Cinco de mayo is a holiday celebrated on may 5 in parts of mexico and the united states. Cinco de mayo is frequently regarded as the mexican equivalent of the united states 4th of july.