Cinco de Mayo is an annual celebration of Latin American heritage that takes place on the anniversary of Mexico’s difficult victory over French forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. However, many Americans do not know the history of Cinco de Mayo, incorrectly assuming it is Mexican Independence Day (a celebration held annually on Sept. 16). In this video, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh anthropology professor Pete Brown explains the story of Cinco de Mayo and its significance in Latin American culture.

Video transcript:

Pete Brown: “Cinco de Mayo represents what they call the Battle of Puebla. This is back in 1862. Then-Mexican president Benito Juarez defaulted on his loans; and France, Great Britain and Spain got together and decided that they were going to invade Mexico. So the three of them landed in Mexico, took some coastal cities and then that alliance fell apart. Great Britain and Spain went home, and France, this was under Napoleon the Third, decided that he wanted Mexico so he sent his army advancing. They got up to Puebla and they thought they could take the town, but the Mexican army entrenched themselves and there they fought a battle and the Mexican army won! And so that was on Cinco de Mayo 1862. But honestly, in Mexico, the Battle of Puebla is not a big deal, and Cinco de Mayo is not a big deal. Cinco de Mayo is celebrated much more in the United States. Cinco de Mayo has become, well, one of the analogies is: like St. Patrick’s Day is for the Irish, Cinco de Mayo is that day for anyone of Latin American ancestry.”