Cinco de Mayo is a cultural phenomenon in the United States. It’s a time to celebrate Mexican culture and, for some, an opportunity to drink a lot of margaritas and cerveza.

But it is also a frequently misunderstood holiday. Here is what Cinco de Mayo is all about.

What is Cinco de Mayo?

People often mistake Cinco de Mayo for a celebration of Mexican independence. But they’re wrong.

The holiday celebrates a failed French invasion after a fledgling Mexican state defaulted on debt payments to European governments.

In 1861 Mexico was suffering from financial ruin following years of internal strife. This was exploited by the French President Napoleon III, who thought it would be a fantastic time to try and build an empire there. Mexico had defaulted on debts with Britain and Spain as well, but those two countries negotiated with the country and withdrew their navy.

The French invaded Mexico in late 1861 with well-armed forces and stormed Veracruz, forcing the Mexican government and its forces to retreat into northern Mexico.

Confident of further victories, French forces focused their attention on the city Puebla de Los Angeles. Anticipating the attack, Mexican President Benito Juárez brought together a group of 2,000 men to fight back, many of whom were indigenous Mexicans or of mixed ancestry.

When the French finally attacked, on May 5, 1862, the battle lasted from daybreak to early evening. The French ended up retreating after losing almost 500 soldiers. The Mexicans lost fewer than 100.

Was the battle significant?

Strategically, not really. The battle represented more of a symbolic victory for the Mexican forces and added to the resistance. French forces didn’t leave until 1867 after years of fighting.

Mexicans were helped in part by the end of the Civil War, when the US was able to send their own troops to help out their besieged neighbour.

'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico Show all 17 1 /17 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico Dia de los Muertos is a festival to remember friends and family members who have died and is celebrated throughout Mexico and by people of Mexican heritage living in the United States AP 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico A woman holds her baby as she gets helped into her costume in preparation for the start of a Day of the Dead parade along Mexico City's main Reforma Avenue, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016. Mexico's Day of the Dead celebrations, which traditionally consisted of quiet family gatherings at the graves of their departed loved ones are fast changing under the influence of Hollywood movies, zombie shows, Halloween and even politics. Mexico's capital was holding its first Day of the Dead parade, an idea actually born out of the imagination of a scriptwriter for last year's James Bond movie "Spectre." In the film, whose opening scenes were shot in Mexico City, Bond chases a villain through crowds of revelers in what resembled a parade of people in skeleton outfits and floats. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) AP 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico Women wearing costumes participate in the "Day of the Dead" parade in Mexico City, Mexico, October 29, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso Reuters 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico A float with a skull figure participates in the "Day of the Dead" parade in Mexico City, Mexico, October 29, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso Reuters 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico Thousands of people try to get a glimpse of a Day of the Dead parade at the main Zocalo plaza in Mexico City, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016. Hollywood movies, zombie shows, Halloween and even politics are fast changing Mexico's Day of the Dead celebrations, which traditionally consisted of quiet family gatherings at the graves of their departed loved ones bringing them music, drink and conversation. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) AP 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico A costumed couple poses for a photo during a Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016. Hollywood movies, zombie shows, Halloween and even politics are fast changing Mexico's Day of the Dead celebrations, which traditionally consisted of quiet family gatherings at the graves of their departed loved ones bringing them music, drink and conversation. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) AP 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico People look at the "Day of the Dead" parade in Mexico City, Mexico, October 29, 2016. REUTERS/Carlos Jasso Reuters 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico A woman dressed in a skeleton costume parades during the annual Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festival at the Hollywood Forever cemetery in Hollywood, California on October 29, 2016. Dia de los Muertos is a festival to remember friends and family members who have died and is celebrated throughout Mexico and by people of Mexican heritage living in the United States. / AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTONMARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images Getty 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico epa05609299 People dressed as a the Death participate in a parade during Day of the Dead celebrations at the Main Square in Mexico City, Mexico, 29 October 2016. EPA/MARIO GUZMAN EPA 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico People in costume parade during the annual Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) festival at the Hollywood Forever cemetery in Hollywood, California on October 29, 2016. Dia de los Muertos is a festival to remember friends and family members who have died and is celebrated throughout Mexico and by people of Mexican heritage living in the United States. / AFP PHOTO / Mark RALSTONMARK RALSTON/AFP/Getty Images Getty 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico Floats depicting "Catrinas" and other death related characters and offerings march during the first Big Parade of the City to celebrate the Day of the Dead in Mexico City on October 29, 2016. The parade is promoted by Mexico's City Municipality and it is inspired by the James Bond 007 movie "Spectre". / AFP PHOTO / MARIA CALLSMARIA CALLS/AFP/Getty Images Getty 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico epa05609300 People dressed and painted as Mexican popular character Catrina and the Death participate in a parade during Day of the Dead celebrations at the Main Square in Mexico City, Mexico, 29 October 2016. EPA/MARIO GUZMAN EPA 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico A man in costume takes a selfie during a Day of the Dead parade along Mexico City's main Reforma Avenue, Saturday, Oct. 29, 2016. Hollywood movies, zombie shows, Halloween and even politics are fast changing Mexico's Day of the Dead celebrations, which traditionally consisted of quiet family gatherings at the graves of their departed loved ones bringing them music, drink and conversation. (AP Photo/Dario Lopez-Mills) AP 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico epaselect epa05609301 People dressed in traditional costumes participate in a parade during Day of the Dead celebrations at the Main Square in Mexico City, Mexico, 29 October 2016. EPA/MARIO GUZMAN EPA 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico People walk in a procession organized by sex workers to remember their deceased colleagues, especially those who were violently murdered, as part of the celebrations ahead of the Day of the Dead, in Mexico City, Mexico October 28, 2016. Picture taken October 28, 2016. REUTERS/Ginnette Riquelme Reuters 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico People walk in a procession organized by sex workers to remember their deceased colleagues, especially those who were violently murdered, as part of the celebrations ahead of the Day of the Dead, in Mexico City, Mexico October 28, 2016. Picture taken October 28, 2016. REUTERS/Ginnette Riquelme Reuters 'Dia de los Muertos' - Day of the dead festival in Mexico Famers harvest cempasuchilt and velvet flowers to celebrate the Day of the Dead in Atlixco, Puebla, Mexico. The flowers will be sold at the 'Market of the flower EPA

Does all of Mexico celebrate Cinco de Mayo?

People in Puebla celebrate, as that’s where the unlikely victory occurred, but the festivities aren’t nationwide. Cinco de Mayo isn’t a federal holiday so the day is just like any other day for most people in Mexico.

When does Mexico celebrate its independence?

Mexico celebrates its independence on September 16. On that day in 1810, Mexican revolutionary priest Miguel Hidalgo y Castilla made a famous call to arms for his fellow men and women to resist Spanish colonial government.

Why is it celebrated in the United States?

The holiday is widely seen as a celebration of Mexican cultural heritage for America’s growing Hispanic population.

Latino activists raised awareness for the holiday in the 1960s. In large part, those early holidays in the US were a forum to celebrate the fact that a group of indigenous people were able to successfully hold back French forces.

The holiday has really taken off in the US since then and people today celebrate with parades, parties, mariachi music, and traditional Mexican foods.

Has Cinco de Mayo become particularly significant in recent years?

Donald Trump’s election has bred some uncertainty and fear amongst some people of Mexican heritage in the United States. Mr Trump has favoured anti-immigrant policies and rhetoric, including a promise to deport all undocumented immigrants in the country and build a wall on the border with Mexico to keep people out.

In 2017, Mr Trump tweeted out a photo of him eating a taco bowl (which is not a traditional Mexican dish) on Cinco de Mayo with the statement “I love Hispanics”. But Mexican-Americans aren’t necessarily encouraged by that tweet or the president’s actual positions since, and some have said they are fearful of celebrating Cinco de Mayo during this administration because Mr Trump has stepped up immigration enforcement since taking office.