History of Cinco de Mayo
Cinco de Mayo ("The Fifth of May" in Spanish) commemorates the victory of Mexican forces led by General Ignacio Zaragoza over the French occupational forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.
It is a common misconception that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico's Independence Day, which is celebrated on September 16th ("Dieciseis de septiembre" in Spanish), but actually it is a celebration of the battle. It is celebrated throughout the United States.
Famous Mexican People
Learn about a few of Mexico's influential figures.
Emiliano Zapata
Frida Kahlo
Octavio Paz
Benito Juarez
Cesar Chavez
Emiliano Zapata Salazar was a leading figure in the Mexican Revolution against the dictator Porfirio Díaz. He formed and commanded an important revolutionary force, the Liberation Army of the South.
Frida Kahlo was one of the most famous and important Mexican painters. She painted many self portraits that expressed her pain and suffering. She was married to the famous muralist Diego Rivera.
Octavio Paz, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1990. Paz wrote on topics like Mexican politics and economics, Aztec art, anthropology, and sexuality.
Benito Pablo Juárez García served five terms as President of Mexico. He was the first full-blooded indigeous native mexican to serve as president.
Cesar Chavez was an American-born farm worker of Mexican decent . He is regarded as one of the greatest civil rights leaders. He co-founded the United Farm Workers which improved conditions for union laborers.