Only 10% of People Know Why We Celebrate Cinco de Mayo

Today (5/4/21) is Cinco de Mayo!

It’s really the first party holiday, since huge numbers of people got the vaccine.

So I’m thinking LOTS of people are going to want to live it up today, even if they have NO idea WHY they’re living it up.

A survey just asked people what Cinco de Mayo is actually about.

Only 10% of people knew the correct answer: Celebrating a major Mexican battle win. The victory was over the French at the Battle of Puebla on May 5th, 1862.

• 39% of people thought Cinco de Mayo was Mexico’s Independence Day
• 26% thought it was just a general celebration of Mexican-American culture
• 13% admitted they had no idea
• 13% said it’s, quote, “an excuse to drink.”

The survey also found almost three-quarters of Americans said they planned to do something to celebrate.

• 59% will eat Mexican food
• 32% will drink margaritas
• 17% will drink Mexican beer
• 14% will go to a party
• 8% will go to a bar
• 8% of people say they’re going to use today to read up on Mexican history

(National Today)