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THE 15 BEST Things to Do in Puebla - 2019 (with Photos) - TripAdvisor

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THE 15 BEST Things to Do in Mexico City - UPDATED 2019 (with Photos) - TripAdvisor

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Today's Wonder of the Day was inspired by Ryan. Ryan Wonders, " why do we celebrate cinco de mayo " Thanks for WONDERing with us, Ryan!

People in the United States celebrate their country's Independence Day on the 4 th of July. Many people believe Cinco de Mayo ("5 th of May" in Spanish) is a celebration of Mexico's Independence Day.

But they're wrong! Mexico's Independence Day is actually September 16.

So what is Cinco de Mayo? Cinco de Mayo is a holiday that recognizes the of the Mexican over the French on May 5, 1862, at the Battle of Puebla. Led by General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín, the poorly equipped Mexican made a stand against French forces near the forts of Loreto and Guadalupe.

The Mexican provided encouragement to the Mexican and became a source of for the Mexican people. Despite being outnumbered by the French, who had about 8,000 men to the Mexicans' 4,000, the Mexican destroyed a French that was considered the best in the world at the time and had not been defeated in nearly 50 years.

Although the was short-lived - the French would capture Mexico City and take over the country within a year - it represented a for the Mexican government . It came to and in the unexpected of a clear .

Today, Cinco de Mayo is not that important in Mexico and mainly celebrated only in the state of Puebla. In Mexico, the Independence Day celebrations of September 16 represent that nation's most important holiday.

In the United States, though, Cinco de Mayo has become a significant celebration of Mexican and heritage. In areas of the country with large Mexican-American populations, such as Portland, Denver and Chicago, large festivals are held. People of all backgrounds celebrate the holiday with parades, parties, and traditional Mexican music, dancing, and foods.

Researchers estimate that more than 150 locations in the United States have official Cinco de Mayo celebrations each year. Cinco de Mayo banners and traditional Mexican symbols, such as the Virgin of Guadalupe, are prominently displayed during events.

If you get the chance to check out a Cinco de Mayo celebration, be sure to try out some traditional Mexican foods. Also keep an eye out for Mexican dancers and bands!

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Do People In Mexico Celebrate Cinco De Mayo?

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Today's Wonder of the Day was inspired by Ryan. Ryan Wonders, " why do we celebrate cinco de mayo " Thanks for WONDERing with us, Ryan! People in the United States celebrate their country's Independence Day on the 4 th of July.

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Cinco de Mayo, as celebrated in the United States, shares some similarities to St. Patrick's Day: a mainstream marketing fiasco that's evolved out of an authentic celebration of cultural heritage. The typical Cinco de Mayo is a day of eating tacos and drinking margaritas. But, just like you won't find corned beef and green beer in Ireland on St. Patrick's Day, you won't find ground beef tacos, nachos and frozen margaritas in Mexico on Cinco de Mayo.

Contrary to popular belief, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's Independence Day; it celebrates t he Mexican victory at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War, which came after Mexico's independence from Spain, the Mexican-American War and the Mexican Civil War. In our neighbor to the south, the holiday is mainly celebrated in the region of Puebla, and mostly in the state's capital city of the same name.

But what America's Cinco de Mayo misses is the traditional food of Mexico, named to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, a recognition given to only one other cuisine (French). And, nachos with refried beans, cheese wiz and jalapenos is nowhere on the list or in the country. Taco Bell has even tried opening up in Mexico but each time has failed, simply because no one will eat there.

What makes traditional Mexican fare worthy of such a distinction? You won't find cumin soaked ground beef hard shell tacos topped with iceberg and cheddar. But, you will find lamb barbacoa that has been smoked underground in banana leaves or carnitas topped with queso fresco, pickled onions and homemade salsa verde wrapped in a warm homemade corn tortilla that has been ever so lightly heated on a comal. And Puebla, just so happens to be considered by many, including Rick Bayless and Mark Bittman, as the gastronomic capital of Mexico.

Before Spanish explorers and immigrants swarmed Mexico, Puebla was already a culinary capital. The sacred town of Cholula known for its great pre-Colombian pyramid was also home to pre-Columbian street food. In this ancient city, vendors would set up outside the pyramid to feed those who came to worship.

After arriving in Puebla, the Spanish settled close to Cholula and created what is known today as the city of Puebla. Religion was a major aspect of Spanish conquest and convents and monasteries were set up across the city. Spanish nuns invented many of Puebla and Mexico's most cherished dishes in these convents by integrating old world traditions with new world ingredients.

With that history in mind, here are three famous dishes from Puebla to try this Cinco de Mayo.
1) Mole Poblano
Mole Poblano may be the most consumed dish in Puebla for Cinco de Mayo. But, what is mole (accent on the second syllable, as in guacamole)? There are two origin stories to the word mole. The first is that mole is the Spanish translation of the Aztec or Nahuatl word for sauce, . The second is that mole comes from the Spanish word moler, which means to grind. Whichever story you want to believe, mole is a sauce made from ground up ingredients and comes in all colors and consistencies, but the thick dark mole poblano has made its mark on the international gastronomic world.

Legend has it that mole poblano was first created in the kitchen of the Santa Rosa convent in Puebla by Sor Andrea de la Asunción in the late seventeenth century. According to The Theology of Food: Eating and the Eucharist, Sor Andrea de la Asunción is said to have prepared it for don Tomás Antonio de la Cerda y Aragón, the new viceroy of Spain. This dish is the ultimate combination of old and new world ingredients and cooking practices. This sauce can be somewhat daunting by the long laundry list of ingredients that requires various preparations. But, after one taste of this mole, all the roasting and toasting will be worth it.

Recommended Recipes:
Mole Poblano, Chicken in Mole, Puebla Style, Epicurious
2) Chalupas
Chalupas, an iconic Poblano street food, have a resemblance to tostadas and are the perfect antojito for any Cinco de Mayo celebration. To put it simply, chalupas are fried thick tortillas topped with salsa, shredded meat, chopped onion and sometimes queso fresco.

There are two versions to the history of chalupas. The first is that it gets its name from baskets. According to All About Puebla,

Chalupas date back to Colonial times, when Spanish settlers spent a good part of their days washing clothes by the Almoloya (San Francisco) River. It's said that the women carried everything to the river in big baskets made of wood called chalupas, after which they'd rush home and quickly fry up corn tortillas in lard, top them with salsa, shredded beef or pork, and chopped onion - and call it dinner.

The second is that they are named after the Aztec boats (chalupas) used in the ancient city of Tenochtitlan.

Recommended Recipes:
Chalupas Poblanas, Saveur Magazine Chalupas Poblanas, Mexconnect

Chiles en nogada is an iconic dish of Mexico. It is said to have been invented in the convent of Santa Monica for Agustin de Iturbide's visit to Puebla in 1821. Agustín de Iturbide was Mexico's first emperor after Mexico won independence from Spain. He was served chiles en nogada in Puebla while traveling back to Mexico City from Veracruz after signing the Treaty of Cordoba, which gave Mexico its independence.

The dish signifies Mexico's independence and is made up of the colors of the Mexican flag; red, white and green. The flavors are just as colorful as the ingredients. The sweet, savory, picadillo stuffed poblano pepper dipped in egg batter, fried, and topped with a rich walnut sauce, pomegranate seeds and parsley is something you will not regret. Though it is more traditionally made for Mexico's Independence Day, it is one of Puebla's most cherished dishes.

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About Shaylyn Esposito

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Cinco de Mayo, as celebrated in the United States, shares some similarities to St. Patrick's Day: a mainstream marketing fiasco that's evolved out of an authentic celebration of cultural heritage. The typical Cinco de Mayo is a day of eating tacos and drinking margaritas.

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Mole Poblano
chiles en nogada
cholupas

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The Holiday is celebrated in Puebla with a parade. 20,000 people participate in the parade.
Eat foods that resemble the Mexican flag, like chiles en nogada

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very light hearted, celebratory in ancestors victory against france. Its like a huntington heritage days parade

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THE 15 BEST Things to Do in Puebla - 2019 (with Photos) - TripAdvisor

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Book your tickets online for the top things to do in Puebla, Mexico on TripAdvisor: See 18,067 traveler reviews and photos of Puebla tourist attractions. Find what to do today, this weekend, or in March. We have reviews of the best places to see in Puebla. Visit top-rated & must-see attractions.

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Cinco de mayo is celebrated more in America than it is in Mexico. It is usually celebrated in places with large hispanic populations and focuses more on celebrating Mexican culture.

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Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican national holiday that is also celebrated in the United States. Traditionally, it was a day for Mexican Americans to celebrate their heritage, but these days, it is quite popular in the United States, and people of all ethnicities join in the fun. There are many misconceptions about the holiday, however; many people in the United States think Cinco de Mayo is Mexico's Day of Independence. In reality, Mexico celebrates its independence from Spain on September 16 every year, whereas Cinco de Mayo is observed on May 5. In fact, Cinco de Mayo means "fifth of May" in Spanish. So what does Cinco de Mayo celebrate, if not Mexican independence?
The Battle of Puebla
In the mid-1800s, after the Mexican-American War and the Mexican Reform War, the government of Mexico ran out of funds. They owed a lot of money to powerful countries like England, Spain, and France, but they had no way of paying it back. The Mexican president at the time, Benito Juarez, promised his country would eventually pay the other countries, but he decided to stop payments for a period of two years. England, Spain, and France didn't like this plan, and they all sent troops to Mexico so they could collect their money. After a while, Spain and England changed their minds and left, but France stayed. The French didn't just want their money back; they wanted to conquer Mexico! On May 5, 1862, French troops led by Gen. Charles Ferdinand Latrille de Lorencez attacked the Mexican city of Puebla. Mexican troops led by General Ignacio Zaragoza were waiting for them. Even though France was considered one of the greatest military powers in the world at the time and Zaragoza's troops were made up of mainly inexperienced farmers, Mexico defeated France in the Battle of Puebla. From that day forward, Mexico has celebrated their military victory over the French every year on May 5, Cinco de Mayo.
History of the Holiday
In Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is a day about national pride. Traditionally, it was celebrated with parades to commemorate the Mexican victory over the French in the Battle of Puebla. Over time, however, the government of Mexico went through a lot of major changes, and many people in Mexico no longer felt the same way about the holiday. To them, the importance of the day in Mexico's history had faded. Of course, some people in Mexico still observe Cinco de Mayo. There are parades in Mexico City and across the country, but the city of Puebla itself is home to the biggest celebrations.

Celebrations of Cinco de Mayo in the United States began in areas where lots of Mexican Americans lived. People in small New Mexico towns, for instance, celebrated their heritage and honored the important holiday by gathering outside to travel down the street in spirited parades. Cinco de Mayo became even more popular during the Chicano movement of the 1960s, when Mexican Americans fought for their civil rights. They saw the holiday as an opportunity to show pride in their culture. Today, large celebrations take place in major cities all over the United States, and people of all ethnicities take part in the festivities.
Celebrations
These days, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in Mexico with parades and rallies. Occasionally, Mexican revelers will dress in extravagant French military costumes and simpler Mexican uniforms as a reminder of what the holiday is all about. The day's festivities are often accompanied by mariachi music, traditional dances, and lots of food. Children have the day off from school, but many banks and government offices remain open. In America, people celebrate much the same way, but on an even larger scale. There are public parades and private parties, mariachi music, and folk dancing. Mexican food is also part of the festivities, both traditional Mexican meals, like tacos and tamales, and dishes that are more popular in the States, like fajitas and burritos. Some people travel to cities like Los Angeles and Chicago to experience some of the country's biggest Cinco de Mayo celebrations.
Cinco de Mayo Activities
No matter who you are, there are plenty of ways you can celebrate Cinco de Mayo. You can make colorful decorations and other crafts, learn phrases and songs in Spanish, and eat traditional Mexican foods. Whatever you do, be sure to do it with adult supervision!

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Traditions of Mexico: Cinco de Mayo - Primary

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Cinco de Mayo is a Mexican national holiday that is also celebrated in the United States. Traditionally, it was a day for Mexican Americans to celebrate their heritage, but these days, it is quite popular in the United States, and people of all ethnicities join in the fun.

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Today's Wonder of the Day was inspired by Ryan. Ryan Wonders, " why do we celebrate cinco de mayo " Thanks for WONDERing with us, Ryan!

People in the United States celebrate their country's Independence Day on the 4 th of July. Many people believe Cinco de Mayo ("5 th of May" in Spanish) is a celebration of Mexico's Independence Day.

But they're wrong! Mexico's Independence Day is actually September 16.

So what is Cinco de Mayo? Cinco de Mayo is a holiday that recognizes the of the Mexican over the French on May 5, 1862, at the Battle of Puebla. Led by General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín, the poorly equipped Mexican made a stand against French forces near the forts of Loreto and Guadalupe.

The Mexican provided encouragement to the Mexican and became a source of for the Mexican people. Despite being outnumbered by the French, who had about 8,000 men to the Mexicans' 4,000, the Mexican destroyed a French that was considered the best in the world at the time and had not been defeated in nearly 50 years.

Although the was short-lived - the French would capture Mexico City and take over the country within a year - it represented a for the Mexican government . It came to and in the unexpected of a clear .

Today, Cinco de Mayo is not that important in Mexico and mainly celebrated only in the state of Puebla. In Mexico, the Independence Day celebrations of September 16 represent that nation's most important holiday.

In the United States, though, Cinco de Mayo has become a significant celebration of Mexican and heritage. In areas of the country with large Mexican-American populations, such as Portland, Denver and Chicago, large festivals are held. People of all backgrounds celebrate the holiday with parades, parties, and traditional Mexican music, dancing, and foods.

Researchers estimate that more than 150 locations in the United States have official Cinco de Mayo celebrations each year. Cinco de Mayo banners and traditional Mexican symbols, such as the Virgin of Guadalupe, are prominently displayed during events.

If you get the chance to check out a Cinco de Mayo celebration, be sure to try out some traditional Mexican foods. Also keep an eye out for Mexican dancers and bands!

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Do People In Mexico Celebrate Cinco De Mayo?

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Today's Wonder of the Day was inspired by Ryan. Ryan Wonders, " why do we celebrate cinco de mayo " Thanks for WONDERing with us, Ryan! People in the United States celebrate their country's Independence Day on the 4 th of July.

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You might hear about Cinco de Mayo parties. But even though celebrations of Cinco de Mayo (which translates to the Fifth of May) originated in Mexico, the day is more popular in the United States!

So what does Cinco de Mayo celebrate? On the morning of May 5, 1862, 6,000 French troops stormed the Mexican city of Heróica Puebla de Zaragoza to bring it under French rule. The Mexican soldiers were outnumbered, but they fiercely fought back. By early evening, the French had retreated.

Now the people of Puebla, Mexico, observe the holiday Cinco de Mayo to celebrate this victory. The holiday is also widely celebratedin the United States. Americans use the celebration to honor the battle as well as Mexican culture.

In the United States, people attend parades with colorfully dressed dancers, listen to lively Mexican folk music called mariachi, and eat millions of avocados in traditional eats such as guacamole. Washington, D.C., even holds the Running of the Chihuahuas, where Chihuahua dogs (a breed that originated in Mexico) race each other for fun. Cinco de Mayo might be celebrated on the fifth day of May, but it gets a ten on the fun scale.
Text by April Capochino Myers

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You might hear about Cinco de Mayo parties. But even though celebrations of Cinco de Mayo (which translates to the Fifth of May) originated in Mexico, the day is more popular in the United States! So what does Cinco de Mayo celebrate?

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This article was most recently revised and updated by

Cinco de Mayo, (Spanish: "Fifth of May") holiday celebrated in parts of Mexico and the United States in honour of a military victory in 1862 over the French forces of Napoleon III.

When in 1861 Mexico declared a temporary moratorium on the repayment of foreign debts, English, Spanish, and French troops invaded the country. By April 1862 the English and Spanish had withdrawn, but the French, with the support of wealthy landowners, remained in an attempt to establish a monarchy under Maximilian of Austria and to curb U.S. power in North America. On May 5, 1862, a poorly equipped mestizo and Zapotec force under the command of General Ignacio Zaragoza defeated French troops at the Battle of Puebla, southeast of Mexico City; about 1,000 French troops were killed. Although the fighting continued and the French were not driven out for another five years, the victory at Puebla became a symbol of Mexican resistance to foreign domination. The city, which was later renamed Puebla de Zaragoza, is the site of a museum devoted to the battle, and the battlefield itself is maintained as a park.

The day is celebrated in the state of Puebla with parades, speeches, and reenactments of the 1862 battle, though it is not much noticed in most of the rest of the country. In the mid-20th-century United States, the celebration of Cinco de Mayo became among Mexican immigrants a way of encouraging pride in their Mexican heritage. Critics observed that enthusiasm for the holiday celebration did not take off with a broader demographic until it was explicitly linked with the promotion of Mexican alcoholic beverages and that many U.S. festivities tended to both perpetuate negative stereotypes of Mexicans and promote excessive drinking.

Cinco de Mayo is not to be confused with Mexican Independence Day, which falls on September 16. The latter holiday was established in 1810, some 50 years before the Battle of Puebla occurred.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Amy Tikkanen.

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Cinco de Mayo | History, Celebrations, & Facts

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Cinco de Mayo, holiday celebrated in parts of Mexico and the United States in honor of a military victory in 1862 over the French forces of Napoleon III. It should not be confused with Mexican Independence Day, which falls on September 16 and was established in 1810. Learn more about Cinco de Mayo.

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Table of Contents

1. Cinco de Mayo History

2. The Battle of Puebla

3. How Long Did the Battle of Puebla Last?

4. Cinco de Mayo in Mexico

5. Why Do We Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in the United States?

6. Confusion With Mexican Independence Day

Cinco de Mayo, or the fifth of May, is a holiday that celebrates the date of the Mexican army's May 5, 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. The day, which falls on Friday, May 5 in 2023, is also known as Battle of Puebla Day. While it is a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, in the United States, Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a commemoration of Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in areas with large Mexican-American populations.

Cinco de Mayo History

Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day, a popular misconception. Instead, it commemorates a single battle. In 1861, Benito Juárez-a lawyer and member of the Indigenous Zapotec tribe-was elected president of Mexico. At the time, the country was in financial ruin after years of internal strife, and the new president was forced to default on debt payments to European governments.

In response, France, Britain and Spain sent naval forces to Veracruz, Mexico, demanding repayment. Britain and Spain negotiated with Mexico and withdrew their forces.

France, however, ruled by Napoleon III, decided to use the opportunity to carve an empire out of Mexican territory. Late in 1861, a well-armed French fleet stormed Veracruz, landing a large force of troops and driving President Juárez and his government into retreat.

The Battle of Puebla

Certain that success would come swiftly, 6,000 French troops under General Charles Latrille de Lorencez set out to attack Puebla de Los Angeles, a small town in east-central Mexico. From his new headquarters in the north, Juárez rounded up a ragtag force of 2,000 loyal men-many of them either Indigenous Mexicans or of mixed ancestry-and sent them to Puebla.

The vastly outnumbered and poorly supplied Mexicans, led by Texas-born General Ignacio Zaragoza, fortified the town and prepared for the French assault. On May 5, 1862, Lorencez gathered his army-supported by heavy artillery-before the city of Puebla and led an assault.

How Long Did the Battle of Puebla Last?

The battle lasted from daybreak to early evening, and when the French finally retreated they had lost nearly 500 soldiers. Fewer than 100 Mexicans had been killed in the clash.

Although not a major strategic win in the overall war against the French, Zaragoza's success at the Battle of Puebla on May 5 represented a great symbolic victory for the Mexican government and bolstered the resistance movement. In 1867-thanks in part to military support and political pressure from the United States, which was finally in a position to aid its besieged neighbor after the end of the Civil War -France finally withdrew.

The same year, Austrian Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian, who had been installed as emperor of Mexico in 1864 by Napoleon, was captured and executed by Juárez's forces. Puebla de Los Angeles was renamed for General Zaragoza, who died of typhoid fever months after his historic triumph there.

Cinco de Mayo in Mexico

Within Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is primarily observed in the state of Puebla, where Zaragoza's unlikely victory occurred, although other parts of the country also take part in the celebration.

Traditions include military parades, recreations of the Battle of Puebla and other festive events. For many Mexicans, however, May 5 is a day like any other: It is not a federal holiday, so offices, banks and stores remain open.

Why Do We Celebrate Cinco de Mayo in the United States?

In the United States, Cinco de Mayo is widely interpreted as a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in areas with substantial Mexican-American populations.

Chicano activists raised awareness of the holiday in the 1960s, in part because they identified with the victory of Indigenous Mexicans (such as Juárez) over European invaders during the Battle of Puebla.

Today, revelers mark the occasion with parades, parties, mariachi music, Mexican folk dancing and traditional foods such as tacos and mole poblano. Some of the largest festivals are held in Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston.

Confusion With Mexican Independence Day

Many people outside Mexico mistakenly believe that Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of Mexican independence, which was declared more than 50 years before the Battle of Puebla.

Independence Day in Mexico (Día de la Independencia) is commemorated on September 16, the anniversary of the revolutionary priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla's famous " Grito de Dolores " ("Cry of Dolores," referring to the city of Dolores Hidalgo, Mexico), a call to arms that amounted to a declaration of war against the Spanish colonial government in 1810.

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Cinco de Mayo 2022: Facts, Meaning & Celebrations

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Cinco de Mayo, or the fifth of May, is a holiday that celebrates the date of the Mexican army's 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War.

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In Mexico students have the day off from school, but banks and government offices chooses whether or not they have it off. Celebrations in Puebla are more popular than anywhere else. In Puebla, the event is commemorated with parades and a battle reenactment.

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Celebrated on May 5.
NOT MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE DAY