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Cinco de Mayo is celebrated nationwide in the United States and regionally in Mexico, primarily in the state of Puebla, where the holiday is called El Día de la Batalla de Puebla (English: The Day of the Battle of Puebla). The date is observed in the United States as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride, and to commemorate the cause of freedom and democracy during the first years of the American Civil War.

In the state of Puebla, the date is observed to commemorate the Mexican army's unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862, under the leadership of General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín.

Contrary to widespread popular belief, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's Independence Day—the most important national patriotic holiday in Mexico—which is actually celebrated on September 16.

It's mainly a govt/school/bank holiday. There is also a parade. This year being the 150th anniversary there was a big reenactment in Puebla with the president in attendance.

People don't have parties or cookouts or anything special to celebrate it.

Mothers' day, the night before Independence Day, Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve and Good Friday are all bigger celebrations.

It's situation similar to St. Patrick's Day which is a much bigger deal in the USA than in Ireland. Just as St. Patrick's Day parades and the commercialization of teh day are seeping from the USA to Ireland the 5 de mayo commercialization from the USA is beginning to seep into Mexico.

Basically your teacher is right.

We acknowledge the date (there was a big battle that day) but no parties, no getting together, no nothing. this year they are doing a reenactment of the battle, but I do not know anyone who is going. I would say May 1 -our labor day- is way more important (parades, federal holiday, etc).

The independence day -September 16- is the big celebration.

Oh Cielo is right, the way US thinks we go mad on this day is ridiculous. No, we don't celebrate it, we just have a day with no school or work.