Cinco de Mayo Confusion: Most Americans Don’t Know What They’re Actually Celebrating
It’s May 5th, the day when margaritas flow, sombreros make party cameos, and guac gets double-dipped—but here’s the twist: most Americans have no idea why they’re celebrating.
A new poll has revealed some wild misconceptions about Cinco de Mayo, and the results are more telling than a bar tab after bottomless Palomas. While 70% of Americans say they plan to celebrate the holiday, only 10% know what it’s actually about. Spoiler alert: It’s not Mexico’s Independence Day.
The real story? Cinco de Mayo marks Mexico’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. While it wasn’t a decisive win in the war—France went on to occupy Mexico for a couple more years—it was a huge morale boost and a defining moment of Mexican resistance. Historians even note it helped sway American support during the Civil War, preventing France from potentially backing the Confederacy. That’s right—this little-known skirmish may have helped shape U.S. history too.
Yet the poll paints a different picture of public awareness.
- 39% think it’s Mexico’s Independence Day (that’s actually September 16th)
- 26% believe it’s a general celebration of Mexican-American culture
- 13% admit they’re just here for the party
- And another 13% simply have no clue at all
Despite the confusion, folks are going all in. Most plan to celebrate by eating Mexican food, sipping margaritas, or chugging Mexican beer. 20% say they’ll honor Mexican culture, while others are diving into house parties, bar hopping, or (for the ambitious) brushing up on their history.
Meanwhile, Google Trends released a juicy map of top-searched Cinco de Mayo cocktails:
- Margaritas dominated the West and Southeast
- Micheladas were hot in Middle America
- Palomas and Piña Coladas were Midwest favorites
- Ohio? They’re chasing Tequila Sunrises
So this Cinco de Mayo, by all means, raise your glass—but maybe take a moment between sips to toast the real history behind the holiday.
