What is Cinco de Mayo? The meaning and origins of the holiday are related to the famous battle of 1862

Cinco de Mayo is much more than just a day of drinking and partying. In Mexico, it is a day full of history and culture.

Cinco de Mayo is celebrated every year on May 5th and commemorates Mexico’s victory over the Second French Empire under Napoleon III at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Now perhaps more popular in the United States than in Mexico, the holiday is often celebrated by people of Mexican-American descent.

The name of the holiday, Cinco de Mayo, means “fifth of May.” This year it falls on Sunday, May 5.

Cities across the U.S. celebrate each year with parades, festivals, music and more, from Los Angeles to Chicago and everywhere in between. Restaurants and brands also get in on the action, offering food and drink deals all weekend long.

Learn more about the origins of Cinco de Mayo and why it is celebrated in the United States today.

What is celebrated on Cinco de Mayo? Origins linked to the battle of 1862

Mexican Independence Day or Día de la Independencia was September 16, 1810, when the country freed itself from Spanish rule.

Cinco de Mayo took place more than 50 years later, when the French Emperor Napoleon III wanted to claim Mexico for himself.

The French sent troops to expel Mexico’s President Benito Juárez and the government from Veracruz. At dawn on May 5, 1862, in a small city in central-eastern Mexico called Puebla, 2,000 Mexican soldiers faced 6,000 French soldiers. Incredibly, that evening Mexico declared victory and Juárez declared May 5 a national holiday.

The battle also played a role in the American Civil War. Since the French were defeated and left North America, the Confederacy could not use them as allies to win the war.

Why are so many Americans still confused?

“Everyone thinks it’s just party time, it’s corona time,” Mario García, a Chicanx historian at the University of California, Santa Barbara, previously told USA TODAY.

“It’s OK for people to go out and have fun on a holiday like Cinco de Mayo – at least they feel like it’s some kind of Mexican holiday,” García said. “But we should go beyond that. We should have Cinco de Mayo events that go beyond partying and drinking and where we raise awareness about history.”

Part of the confusion many Americans have about what Cinco de Mayo celebrates may be because the name is much catchier and easier for English speakers to pronounce than Mexican Independence Day (Diez y seis de Septiembre), García said last year.

The holiday serves as a reminder of the importance of Chicanx history and the contribution of its people to the United States

“When you study the history of Chicanos and Latinos, it’s clear that they made history,” García said previously. “They were involved in every aspect of American history, not to mention the wars… In World War II alone, nearly half a million Latinos – mostly Mexicans – fought in the war. And they won a disproportionate number of Congressional Medals of Honor.”

Why is Cinco de Mayo more popular in the USA than in Mexico?

Although Cinco de Mayo is celebrated throughout Mexico, especially in the city of Puebla, the event is not comparable to the Día de la Independencia celebrations, said García.

In the United States, Cinco de Mayo has now become an annual celebration of Mexican-American culture.

The celebration of Cinco de Mayo began as a form of resistance to the effects of the Mexican-American War in the late 19th century. The holiday gained popularity during the Chicano Movement of the 1960s and 1970s.

“It becomes a Chicano holiday that is linked in many ways to the Chicano movement because we see Mexicans fighting back against a foreign invader,” García said. “They are linking the struggle of the Chicano movement to Cinco de Mayo.”

In the 1980s, businesses began commercializing the holiday, especially beer companies and restaurants, offering Cinco de Mayo specials and cocktails. García jokingly refers to the day as “Corona Day.”

This Cinco de Mayo, García hopes everyone enjoys their Corona, but perhaps with a little history lesson to wash it down.

Cinco de Mayo events in the USA

San Diego: San Diego’s Cinco de Mayo celebrations take place on May 4 and 5 in Old Town San Diego. Activities include live music, folklore, food and drink specials.

Denver: The Mile High City is offering a whole host of holiday-themed activities, from a community parade to a taco-eating contest, on May 4th weekend for Cinco de Mayo Denver. Events will take place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on May 4 and 5 at Denver Civic Center Park.

St. Paul, Minnesota: St. Paul’s annual Cinco de Mayo celebration takes place in the city’s West Side neighborhood and is one of the largest Latino events in Minnesota. This year, festivities will take place on May 4 starting at 10 a.m. and include a parade, car and bike show, and dog show.

San Antonio, Texas: The city sponsors Cinco de Mayo festivities during the holiday weekend of May 4-5 at the historic Market Square, featuring live bands, folklorico dance performances, mariachi, food vendors and more.

Chicago: Chicago celebrates Cinco de Mayo on May 5 with an annual parade that begins at noon at the intersection of Cermak Road and Wood Street and heads west along Cermak Road to Marshall Boulevard. Following the parade, a festival with live music, food, vendors and a carnival takes place in Douglas Park.

Los Angeles: Fiesta Broadway, one of the largest Latino and Cinco de Mayo festivals in the world, spans four blocks in downtown Los Angeles. The annual festival took place this year on April 28, according to organizers.

Offers for Cinco de Mayo

Of course, many restaurants offer discounts and special offers on May 5th. Here are some.

• Abuelo’s: Stop by May 5th and enjoy specials all day on Mexican Grande Draft Beer, Mexican Flag Margarita, La Grandeza Margarita and Chile con Queso for $5. In-store only.

• Chevy’s Fresh Mex: All-day happy hour Friday, May 3 through Saturday, May 4. Enjoy specials in the Cantina for $4, $6, $8 and $10. On Sunday, May 5, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., enjoy a boozy brunch with unlimited mimosas and Bloody Marys for $12. From 3 p.m. to closing, enjoy margarita, beer and shot specials and $4 tacos.

• Chipotle: From May 1st to May 5th, you can use the code “CINCO24” at checkout to reduce the delivery fee to $0. Higher menu prices and fees for additional services apply.

• Chuy’s: Order a regular House ‘Rita for $6 or a Grande House ‘Rite for $10 and keep the gift cup while supplies last. Enjoy Tequila Floaters for $1 all day and Chips ‘N’ Dips for $5 all day Sunday.

• El Torito: Happy hour all day May 3-4. Enjoy specials at the Cantina for $4, $6, $8 and $10. On Sunday, May 5, enjoy an all-you-can-eat brunch from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. with unlimited mimosas, Bloody Marys, Micheladas and margaritas for $5. From 2 p.m. to closing, enjoy margaritas, beer, shot specials and tacos for $4.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What is Cinco de Mayo? Learn about the meaning and origins of the May 5 holiday