Updated May 1, 2018
To understand food, we need to understand the history behind it and vice versa. According to historians, Cinco de Mayo marks the 1862 battle in Puebla, Mexico, when a small, outnumbered Mexican army defeated the French. Yet Cinco de Mayo isn’t the anniversary of the defeat and expulsion of the French forces by the Mexicans. That actually occurred in 1867.
Though Cinco de Mayo is celebrated regionally in Mexico, especially in Puebla, this is a holiday that is much more widely celebrated in the United States, especially by Mexican-Americans.
HIGHLIGHTS OF CINCO DE MAYO
People celebrate by gathering around food, drinks, and music to celebrate the culture, achievements, and experiences of those with a Mexican background who live in the United States.
The main cities with the largest Cinco de Mayo celebrations are Los Angeles, San Jose, San Diego, San Francisco, San Antonio, Sacramento, Phoenix, Albuquerque, Denver and El Paso, where a large proportion of the population has Mexican origins.
WHAT’S ON THE CINCO DE MAYO MENU?
Since without food there’s no party and I like keeping things a bit classic, simple and fresh, let’s start with the following: some guacamole, some homemade tortillas, mole poblano, nachos, tacos, margaritas, and why not a communal Mexican casserole.
Read Related: The Story Behind Cinco de Mayo
