ST. LOUIS — Cinco de Mayo, which translates to the fifth of May, is not Mexican Independence Day, contrary to popular belief. It celebrates the Mexican army’s May 5, 1862, victory at the Battle of Puebla in the Franco-Mexican War, according to History.com.
What is Cinco de Mayo?
Although not a major win in the overall war, the 1862 victory over France at Puebla was a great symbol of Mexican resistance. Led by Texas-born General Ignacio Zaragoza, the outnumbered and poorly supplied Mexican troops were able to overcome the retreating French soldiers in a battle that lasted from daybreak to early evening, according to History.com.
The holiday is not widely observed in Mexico, but traditions in Puebla and other parts of the country include military parades, recreations of the battle and other festivities.
In the U.S., however, the holiday took off due to the efforts of Chicano activists in the 1960s, according to History.com. Now, the day brings parties, parades, mariachi music and Mexican food, with some of the largest celebrations taking place in Chicago, Los Angeles and Houston.
How St. Louis is celebrating
The Cinco de Mayo Cherokee Street Festival will stretch between Nebraska to Jefferson avenues. The festival, which goes from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, celebrates the rich Hispanic culture or the south St. Louis area. According to the festival’s website, more than 100 vendors will pack Cherokee Street with traditional Mexican street food, margaritas, sweet treats, clothing, face painting and more available to purchase.
Spend the day after the Cherokee Street's Cinco de Mayo Festival working off those tacos at the Fiesta de Mayo 5K. The race starts and ends Sunday in the Webster Groves Upper Municipal Parking Lot, with an opportunity afterward to enjoy snow cones or margaritas for those 21 and older. Proceeds from the run go to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
STL Taco Fest is taking over Ballpark Village for two days, May 11-12, for a celebration of Mexican cuisine. The festival will host over 15 local taco companies, taco- and salsa-eating contests, games and live music from Santos Jaguar, Nivel Alterado, Los De La Lou, Clave08, Zeus and more. Tickets are available here.
Local Latino businesses to support
Another way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo is to support one (or more) of the many Latino-owned businesses in the St. Louis area. The following restaurants and stores are members of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan St. Louis:
Restaurants
- APEX Restaurant and Market Solutions, 314 Marshall Road, Suite A, Valley Park, Missouri.
- Asador del Sur, 7322 Manchester Road, Maplewood, Missouri.
- Ballpark Village, 601 Clark St., St. Louis, Missouri.
- Butler’s Pantry, 1414 Park Ave., St. Louis, Missouri.
- Chimi's Fresh-Mex, 4135 N. Cloverleaf Drive, St. Peters, Missouri.
- Crepes and Treats, 2752 Cherokee St., St. Louis, Missouri.
- El Salto Mexican Restaurant, 966 Chesterfield Center Road, Chesterfield, Missouri.
- Elicia’s Pizza, 6645 Gravois, St. Louis, Missouri.
- Golden Hoosier, 3707 South Kingshighway, St. Louis, Missouri.
- Guido’s Pizzeria and Tapas, 5046 Shaw Ave., St. Louis, Missouri.
- Gulf Shores Restaurant & Grill, 215 Harvard Drive, Edwardsville, Illinois.
- Havana’s Cuisine, 1131 Washington Ave., St. Louis, Missouri.
- Malinche, 15939 Manchester Road, Ellisville, Missouri.
- McDonald’s, 1300 Baur Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri.
- Minas Coffee, 4767 Signature Industrial Drive, Edwardsville, Illinois.
- Padrinos Mexican Restaurant, 3143 South Grand Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri.
- Pan Pa Ti Bakery, 5106 Sun Lake Drive, St. Louis, Missouri.
- Panera Bread, 3630 South Geyer Road, St. Louis, Missouri.
- Polite Society Restaurant & Bar, 1923 Park Ave., St. Louis, Missouri.
- Prime 55, 6100 Delmar Blvd., St. Louis, Missouri.
- Restaurant Su Sasita, 1901 Woodson Road, St. Louis, Missouri.
- Sal y Limon, 3798 Falcon View Drive, Arnold, Missouri.
- Stone Turtle, 6335 Clayton Ave., St. Louis, Missouri.
- SURESTE Mexican, 3745 Foundry Way, St. Louis, Missouri.
- The Fattened Caf., 3407 South Jefferson Ave., St. Louis.
- The Pasta Factory, 3103 West Broadway, Suite 109, Columbia, Missouri.
- Villa Antonio Winery, 3663 Linhorst Road, St. Louis, Missouri.
- Yemanja Brasil, 2900 Missouri Ave., St. Louis, Missouri.
Shopping
- Bespoke Apparel, 169 Lamp and Lantern Village, Town and County, Missouri.
- Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More, 6667 Edwardsville Crossing Drive, Edwardsville, Illinois.
- Fastsigns, 2570 South Brentwood Blvd., Brentwood, Missouri.
- Home Depot, 5501 Belleville Crossings, Belleville, Illinois.
- Lux Watch Straps, 601 Brodmoore Drive, Apartment B, Chesterfield, Missouri.
- Restyled by Izzy, 2610 Cherokee St., St. Louis, Missouri.
- Schnucks, 11420 Lackland Road, St. Louis, Missouri.
- Sherwin Williams, 2145 Schuetz Road, Suite 200, St. Louis, Missouri.
- STL Automotive Group, 9352 Veteran's Memorial Parkway, O'Fallon, Missouri.
- Unreleased Grounds, 137 North Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, Illinois.
- Viola STL, 2001 Olive St., St. Louis, Missouri.
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