Cinco de Mayo honors a historic victory
As communities celebrate with music, food, and tradition, local historians remind us that Cinco de Mayo marks the 1862 Battle of Puebla—an enduring symbol of resilience and cultural pride.
WEST SIDE. IT’S CINCO DE MAYO, A DAY FILLED WITH VIBRANT COLORS, FESTIVE MUSIC, AND OF COURSE, DELICIOUS FOOD. BUT WHILE MANY PEOPLE THINK THIS HOLIDAY CELEBRATES MEXICO’S INDEPENDENCE, THAT’S A COMMON MISCONCEPTION. PEYTON SPELLACY JOINS US LIVE WITH THE REAL HISTORY BEHIND THIS HOLIDAY, AND SOME WAYS THAT YOU CAN CELEBRATE. GOOD MORNING PEYTON. HEY, GOOD MORNING ROYALE CINCO DE MAYO. MARKS. SORRY, I’M GETTING A LITTLE FEEDBACK IN MY EAR. CINCO DE MAYO MARKS THE BATTLE OF PUEBLA IN 1862. SO THAT’S WHEN MEXICO FORCES PULLED OFF AN UNLIKELY VICTORY AGAINST FRANCE. AND ALICIA ROMERO, THE CURATOR OF HISTORY AT THE ALBUQUERQUE MUSEUM, SAYS WHILE THIS BATTLE DID NOT END, THE FRANCO-MEXICAN WAR, IT DID MARK AS A SYMBOL OF PRIDE AND PERSEVERANCE. AND WHILE NEW MEXICANS WEREN’T PART OF THIS BATTLE EITHER, BY THEN OUR TERRITORY HAD BEEN PART OF THE U.S. FOR JUST UNDER 20 YEARS, AND MANY FAMILIES HAD DEEP ANCESTRAL AND HISTORICAL TIES TO MEXICO, ROMERO REMINDS PEOPLE. CINCO DE MAYO IS A MOMENT TO REFLECT ON RESILIENCE AND SHARED HISTORY. IT REALLY IS ABOUT A HISTORICAL VICTORY AGAIN, SOMETHING THAT WE NEVER THOUGHT WAS EVER GOING TO HAPPEN. THIS IS A REALLY GOOD TIME TO THINK ABOUT HISTORY AND HOW IT’S IMPACTED US, AND THESE THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN 1862 CONTINUE TO BE CELEBRATED TODAY. YEAH. SO THERE’S GOING TO BE SEVERAL RESTAURANTS THAT WILL HAVE LIVE MUSIC AND FESTIVE MENUS TO CELEBRATE THE HOLIDAY. ERNA FERGUSON PUBLIC LIBRARY ALSO HAVING AN EVENT TODAY. THEY’LL BE MAKING PAPEL PICADO. THAT’S WHERE YOU CUT ELABORATE DESIGNS AND TISSUE PAPER AND THEN HANG THEM UP. THEY’LL ALSO BE DOING ACTIVITIES TO TEACH MORE ABOUT THE REAL HISTORY BEHIND THE HOLIDAY AS WELL. REPORTING LIVE IN
Cinco de Mayo honors a historic victory
As communities celebrate with music, food, and tradition, local historians remind us that Cinco de Mayo marks the 1862 Battle of Puebla—an enduring symbol of resilience and cultural pride.
Updated: 6:36 PM MDT May 5, 2025
Cinco de Mayo is a day filled with vibrant colors, festive music, and traditional food. While many people believe the holiday celebrates Mexico’s independence, it actually commemorates the Battle of Puebla in 1862, when Mexican forces achieved an unexpected victory over the French army.Alicia Romero, curator of history at the Albuquerque Museum, explains that the battle did not end the Franco-Mexican War, but it became a lasting symbol of national pride and perseverance. At the time of the battle, New Mexico had been part of the United States for just under 20 years. Despite this, many families in the region had deep ancestral and historical ties to Mexico.”It really is about historical victory. Again, something that we never thought was ever going to happen, this is a really good time to think about history and how it’s impacted us, and these things that happened in 1862 continue to be celebrated today,” Romero said.Several local restaurants will feature live music and festive menus to mark the occasion. At the Erna Fergusson Public Library, visitors will have the opportunity to create traditional papel picado—elaborate designs cut into tissue paper and hung as decorations. The library will also offer lessons on the real history behind the holiday.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —Cinco de Mayo is a day filled with vibrant colors, festive music, and traditional food. While many people believe the holiday celebrates Mexico’s independence, it actually commemorates the Battle of Puebla in 1862, when Mexican forces achieved an unexpected victory over the French army.
Alicia Romero, curator of history at the Albuquerque Museum, explains that the battle did not end the Franco-Mexican War, but it became a lasting symbol of national pride and perseverance. At the time of the battle, New Mexico had been part of the United States for just under 20 years. Despite this, many families in the region had deep ancestral and historical ties to Mexico.
“It really is about historical victory. Again, something that we never thought was ever going to happen, this is a really good time to think about history and how it’s impacted us, and these things that happened in 1862 continue to be celebrated today,” Romero said.
Several local restaurants will feature live music and festive menus to mark the occasion. At the Erna Fergusson Public Library, visitors will have the opportunity to create traditional papel picado—elaborate designs cut into tissue paper and hung as decorations. The library will also offer lessons on the real history behind the holiday.
