Oye Reader,

Every year around Cinco de Mayo, I see the same thing happen.

People celebrate it.

Businesses promote it.

Restaurants turn it into a party.

And a lot of people still think it is Mexican Independence Day.

But here’s the truth:

Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day.

Mexican Independence Day is celebrated on September 16.

Cinco de Mayo remembers something different: the Battle of Puebla, when Mexican forces defeated the French army on May 5, 1862.

And that distinction matters.

Because when we learn a language, we are not just learning words.

We are learning people.

We are learning memory.

We are learning history.

We are learning how culture gets simplified, commercialized, and sometimes completely misunderstood.

That is why I always tell my students: Spanish is not just grammar and vocabulary. Spanish is a doorway into how people see themselves, their communities, and their history.

So before Cinco de Mayo gets reduced to tacos, drinks, and decorations, I want to invite you to look at the deeper story.

I just refreshed one of my older videos on this topic because the message is still relevant today.

In this video, I break down what Cinco de Mayo is really about, why so many people in the U.S. misunderstand it, and why this celebration became so popular north of the border.

Watch it here:

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And after you watch, ask yourself this:

What other parts of Spanish-speaking culture have we been taught too simply?

Nos vemos,
Profe Don Omar

P.S. Share this video with someone who still thinks Cinco de Mayo is Mexican Independence Day.