This Weekend is Cinco de Mayo!

This Saturday is Cinco de Mayo and there will be a lot of activities going on around the Lake of the Ozarks. While Cinco de Mayo is great for drinking and spending time with friends and family, it is a representation of so much more. The fifth of May is a holiday that celebrates the date of the Mexican army’s victory over France in 1862. In recognition of this cultural event, O’Donnell Law Center would like to share information about Cinco de Mayo and what’s going on around the Lake this Cinco de Mayo weekend.

Cinco de Mayo

This holiday is a celebration of the Mexican army’s victory at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War. Cinco de Mayo is a relatively minor holiday in Mexico. However, in the United States, Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a commemoration of Mexican heritage and its culture. 

The Battle of Puebla

General Charles Latrille de Lorencez was sure that success would come swiftly. He gathered 6,000 French troops and they set out to attack Puebla de Los Angeles. On the other side, the Mexicans were vastly outnumbered and poorly supplied. They were led by Texas-born General Ignacio Zaragoza. The battle of Puebla lasted from daybreak to early evening. When the French troops finally retreated, they had lost almost 500 soldiers. Less than 100 Mexicans had been killed during the battle. While this win wasn’t considered a major strategic win in the overall war against the French, the Mexican’s success at the Battle of Puebla represented a great symbolic victory.

Cinco de Mayo in Mexico

In Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is primarily observed in the state of Puebla, where the unlikely victory had occurred. Other parts of the country do take part in the celebration. These traditional celebrations include military parades, recreations of the Battle, and other festive events. May 5th in Mexico isn’t considered a federal holiday, so banks, offices, and other stores remain open.

Cinco de Mayo in the United States

In the United States, Cinco de Mayo is usually interpreted as a celebration of Mexican heritage and culture, especially in areas with large Mexican-American populations. The holiday gained awareness in the 1960s and is now celebrated with parades, parties, mariachi music, and traditional foods. Some of the largest Cinco de Mayo festivals are held in Chicago, Los Angeles, and Houston. When it comes to Cinco de Mayo, there is a lot of confusion with people believing that it’s a celebration of Mexican independence. Independence Day in Mexico is commemorated on September 16th and was declared more than 50 years before the Battle of Puebla.

Activities at the Lake This Weekend

Photo courtesy of FunLake.com

It’s going to be a busy weekend at the Lake of the Ozarks whether you are celebrating Cinco de Mayo or not. There is the 21st Annual Spring Harbor Hop taking place on Saturday and the Magic Dragon Street Meet Nationals is taking place Friday through Sunday. If you’re looking for an event that is geared specifically towards Cinco de Mayo, Country Crossroads is hosting a Wine Trail and Cinco de Mayo May Day on Saturday.


Photo courtesy of FunLake.com

No matter what you decide to do, O’Donnell Law Center hopes you have a fun and safe weekend! The weather is going to be beautiful, so we hope you are able to get out and enjoy it! 




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Phone: (573) 552-0317

O'Donnell Law Center, LLC

1026 Palisades Blvd. Suite 3
Osage Beach, MO  65065

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