🌮Cinco de Mayo

About Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo — the fifth of May — commemorates Mexico's victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862, when an outnumbered Mexican army defeated one of the world's strongest militaries. The countdown above tracks the days until the next celebration.

Curiously, the day is celebrated far more in the United States than in Mexico, where it is mainly observed in Puebla itself. There the anniversary is marked with a civic parade, historical reenactments of the battle and military ceremonies. North of the border it has grown into a giant festival of Mexican-American culture: mariachi and folklórico dancing, street fairs, parades in cities from Los Angeles to Chicago — and statistically more guacamole and avocados consumed than on almost any other day of the year.

Cinco de Mayo falls on the same calendar date, May 5, every single year, so it never drifts the way Easter-linked holidays do — only the day of the week changes. That makes it easy to plan around, whether you are organising a community fiesta or simply booking a table at your favourite taquería. The countdown above shows exactly how many days, hours and minutes remain until the next May 5; add it to your own page so the date never sneaks up on you.