Cinco de Mayo in United States

Cinco de Mayo is annually observed on May 5, the anniversary of a victory in 1862 in the fight for independence from French forces. It is a festival of Mexican pride and heritage in the United States.

What do people do?

Cinco de Mayo is seen as a day to celebrate the culture, achievements and experiences of people with a Mexican background, who live in the United States. There is a large commercial element to the day, with businesses promoting Mexican services and goods, particularly food, drinks and music. Other aspects of the day center around traditional symbols of Mexican life, such as the Virgin de Guadalupe, and Mexican-Americans who have achieved fame, fortune and influence in the United States.

One of the largest Cinco de Mayo celebrations are in cities such as Los Angeles, San Jose, San Francisco, San Antonio, Sacramento, Phoenix, Albuquerque, Denver and El Paso in the USA's south-western regions. In these cities, a large proportion of the population has Mexican origins. Many people hang up banners and school districts organize lessons and special events to educate their pupils about the culture of Americans of Mexican descent. In some areas, particularly in Pubelo de Los Angeles, celebrations of regional Mexican music and dancing are held.

Public life

Cinco de Mayo is not a federal holiday in the United States. Organizations, businesses and schools are open as usual. Public transit systems run on their usual schedule. In some areas of some cities, especially those in the Southwest, local parades and street events may cause some local congestion to traffic.

Background

Cinco de Mayo officially commemorates the anniversary of an early victory by Mexican forces over French forces in the Battle of Pubela on May 5, 1862. It is not the anniversary of the defeat and expulsion of the French forces by the Mexicans, which occurred in 1867. It is also not, as is often assumed, the day of Mexico's celebrations of independence, which are actually held on September 16. It is believed that the origins of Cinco de Mayo celebrations lie in the responses of Mexicans living in California in the 1860s to French rule in Mexico at that time.

Cinco de Mayo Observances

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Weekday	Date	Year	Name	Holiday type	Where it is observed
Mon	May 5	1980	Cinco de Mayo	Observance
Tue	May 5	1981	Cinco de Mayo	Observance
Wed	May 5	1982	Cinco de Mayo	Observance
Thu	May 5	1983	Cinco de Mayo	Observance
Sat	May 5	1984	Cinco de Mayo	Observance
Sun	May 5	1985	Cinco de Mayo	Observance
Mon	May 5	1986	Cinco de Mayo	Observance
Tue	May 5	1987	Cinco de Mayo	Observance
Thu	May 5	1988	Cinco de Mayo	Observance
Fri	May 5	1989	Cinco de Mayo	Observance
Sat	May 5	1990	Cinco de Mayo	Observance
Sun	May 5	1991	Cinco de Mayo	Observance
Tue	May 5	1992	Cinco de Mayo	Observance
Wed	May 5	1993	Cinco de Mayo	Observance
Thu	May 5	1994	Cinco de Mayo	Observance
Fri	May 5	1995	Cinco de Mayo	Observance
Sun	May 5	1996	Cinco de Mayo	Observance
Mon	May 5	1997	Cinco de Mayo	Observance
Tue	May 5	1998	Cinco de Mayo	Observance
Wed	May 5	1999	Cinco de Mayo	Observance
Fri	May 5	2000	Cinco de Mayo	Observance
Sat	May 5	2001	Cinco de Mayo	Observance
Sun	May 5	2002	Cinco de Mayo	Observance
Mon	May 5	2003	Cinco de Mayo	Observance
Wed	May 5	2004	Cinco de Mayo	Observance
Thu	May 5	2005	Cinco de Mayo	Observance
Fri	May 5	2006	Cinco de Mayo	Observance
Sat	May 5	2007	Cinco de Mayo	Observance
Mon	May 5	2008	Cinco de Mayo	Observance
Tue	May 5	2009	Cinco de Mayo	Observance
Wed	May 5	2010	Cinco de Mayo	Observance
Thu	May 5	2011	Cinco de Mayo	Observance
Sat	May 5	2012	Cinco de Mayo	Observance
Sun	May 5	2013	Cinco de Mayo	Observance
Mon	May 5	2014	Cinco de Mayo	Observance
Tue	May 5	2015	Cinco de Mayo	Observance

Other holidays in May 2012 in United States

• Loyalty Day ―Tuesday, May 1, 2012
• Law Day ―Tuesday, May 1, 2012
• World Press Freedom Day ―Thursday, May 3, 2012
• National Day of Prayer ―Thursday, May 3, 2012
• Rhode Island Independence Day ―Friday, May 4, 2012
• National Nurses Day ―Sunday, May 6, 2012
• Primary Election Day West Virginia ―Tuesday, May 8, 2012
• Primary Election Day Indiana ―Tuesday, May 8, 2012
• Truman Day ―Tuesday, May 8, 2012
• Time of Remembrance and Reconciliation for Those Who Lost Their Lives during the Second World War ―Tuesday, May 8, 2012
• Lag B'Omer ―Thursday, May 10, 2012
• Confederate Memorial Day ―Thursday, May 10, 2012
• World Migratory Bird Day ―Saturday, May 12, 2012
• Mother's Day ―Sunday, May 13, 2012
• Peace Officers Memorial Day ―Tuesday, May 15, 2012
• International Day of Families ―Tuesday, May 15, 2012
• World Information Society Day ―Thursday, May 17, 2012
• Ascension Day ―Thursday, May 17, 2012
• National Defense Transportation Day ―Friday, May 18, 2012
• Armed Forces Day ―Saturday, May 19, 2012
• World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development ―Monday, May 21, 2012
• International Day for Biological Diversity ―Tuesday, May 22, 2012
• National Maritime Day ―Tuesday, May 22, 2012
• Towel Day ―Friday, May 25, 2012
• National Missing Children's Day ―Friday, May 25, 2012
• African Liberation Day ―Friday, May 25, 2012
• Shavuot ―Sunday, May 27, 2012
• Pentecost ―Sunday, May 27, 2012
• Memorial Day ―Monday, May 28, 2012
• Whit Monday ―Monday, May 28, 2012
• Jefferson Davis Birthday ―Monday, May 28, 2012
• International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers ―Tuesday, May 29, 2012
• World No Tobacco Day ―Thursday, May 31, 2012