Rebranding Cinco de Mayo in the modern world
What do Mexicans actually celebrate?
Community voices
By Mexican Londoner Claudia Palacios
Distance is a strange lens. It has a way of blurring the ordinary details of our daily lives while it reminds us intensely of who we are at the core. There is a profound truth within immigrant circles: no Mexican is more aware of their culture than the one who lives away from it. Whether you are navigating the streets of Paris or the tube at peak time, being part of a diaspora transforms your heritage. It is no longer something you ‘have’, it is something you must actively protect.
According to the 2021 Census, there are roughly 10,000 to 12,000 Mexican-born residents in England and Wales, with nearly 50% concentrated in London. While this community is small compared to the millions in the U.S., its influence is undergoing a quiet revolution.
For the second generation growing up in the UK, from the suburbs of Manchester to the boroughs of London, identity isn’t just a background fact; it is a conscious construction.
What is Cinco de Mayo
To understand why a 19th-century battle in the city of Puebla became the ultimate symbol for cultural guardianship in the USA (and why you are reading this), we have to look past the ‘margarita marketing’ and into the soul of a movement that spans two centuries and two continents.
The David vs. Goliath of 1862
Cinco de Mayo commemorates the ‘Battle of Puebla’ on May 5, 1862. President Benito Juárez had suspended debt payments, prompting France, Britain, and Spain to send forces to collect. While others withdrew, Napoleon III saw an opportunity to establish a French-backed monarchy in the Americas (wouldn’t be the first time in Mexico). The French army was the ‘gold standard’ of the era; well-equipped, highly trained, and nearly twice the size of the Mexican resistance
We, the Mexicans, had impossible odds:
The French: 6,000–8,000 elite, professional soldiers.
The Mexicans: 4,000 poorly equipped troops and local volunteers.
Against all logic, General Ignacio Zaragoza led his forces to victory. While France eventually returned with more men, that single day proved that a marginalized community could hold its own against a global empire. For the immigrant and the diaspora, this is a survival guide: it shows that resistance is possible, even when you are outnumbered.
The Chicano movement in the USA and the rebranding of Cinco de Mayo
The Chicano Movement was a Mexican American civil rights movement that grew in the United States during the 1960s and 1970s. It sought to challenge discrimination and secure better labour conditions, educational opportunities, and political representation for Mexican Americans. Influenced by the broader U.S. civil rights era, activists reclaimed the term ‘Chicano’ as a symbol of cultural pride and political identity. The movement helped expand bilingual education, increase Mexican American political participation, and establish Chicano studies programs in universities, leaving a lasting impact on Latino civil rights and cultural identity in the United States.
They created a “Cultural Renaissance” through three main pillars:
Educational Reform: ‘El Plan de Santa Bárbara’ (1969) argued that education should empower students by reflecting their history. ( In the UK, where the national curriculum rarely mentions Latin American history, this ‘self-taught’ approach is vital)
Symbolic Homelands: The concept of ‘Aztlán’, the mythical Aztec homeland, gave Mexican-Americans a sense of belonging to the land they stood on.
Labor Dignity: The United Farm Workers movement proved that the ‘minority’ voice was the backbone of the economy.
In the 1960s and 70s, the Chicano Movement adopted Cinco de Mayo as a deliberate act of cultural reclamation. By elevating a victory where a smaller, ‘underdog’ Mexican force defeated the global superpower of the time -the French Empire- activists found a powerful historical metaphor for their own struggle against systemic discrimination in the United States. It allowed second-generation Mexican-Americans to reject the pressure of passive assimilation and instead celebrate a heritage rooted in resistance and dignity. Organizations like the United Farm Workers and student groups across universities used the holiday not just for festivities, but as a strategic platform for political speeches, community organizing, and the promotion of Chicano Studies. Ultimately, they transformed a regional military anniversary into a nationwide symbol of ethnic solidarity, proving that cultural identity can be a potent tool for social and political empowerment. They realized that to have political power, they first needed cultural pride.
But Claudia! Why does a 1960s movement from California matter in 2026 London?
Dear reader, worry not, getting to the point… It matters because it provides the vocabulary for pride. In the UK, second-generation Mexicans often feel ‘ni de aquí, ni de allá’ (not from here, nor from there). The Chicano movement was the first to say that this middle ground is a place of power.
It teaches that you don’t have to “choose” between being British and Mexican.
It proves that your culture is a source of strength, not a barrier to integration.
It turns a small historical victory (Puebla) into a massive personal victory (Identity).
The British-Mexican Reality: A Different Kind of Aztlán
The experience of a ‘Brit-Mex’ second generation is unique. Unlike the U.S., where Mexican culture is everywhere, the UK community is a small diaspora.
While the U.S. has over 37 million people of Mexican origin, the UK community is smaller than the populations of many individual towns in Mexico. This means every individual acts as a de facto cultural ambassador.
When you teach your child Spanish, share a recipe for authentic tacos, or explain the significance of the Battle of Puebla, you are performing a revolutionary act. You are ensuring that a culture that survived a French empire in 1862 can also survive the distance of the Atlantic in 2026.
For a child growing up in London, celebrating Cinco de Mayo isn’t just about a battle in 1862. It is an act of intentional heritage. Without the massive festivals of the U.S., the British-Mexican diaspora must build their own ‘mini-Aztlán’ within their homes and small community groups.
Claudia, but WHY? WHY must it be on the 5th of May?
It doesn’t have to be, but it is handy that it already exists, that it is widely recognisable, and that the biggest collective of Mexican immigrants (97% of Mexicans outside of Mexico reside in the USA) has managed to turn the date into a heritage pride day.
5 de Mayo is a historical fact, but in the modern world, it has become a study in cultural appropriation, because Margaritas are good, Tacos are delicious, and Mexico is a great source of revenue.
However, it is on the 5th of May that we can consciously choose to rebel, to build, and to belong. No, I don’t celebrate la ‘Batalla de Puebla’ (after all, the French did end up beating us in battle 10 days later); instead, I celebrate my cultura, my historia. I take every opportunity to help others understand why it has such significance in the USA diaspora and how we can turn around its significance in the UK. By all means, enjoy the food and the drinks, but listen out, it comes with an important message.
As MexiBrits continue to carve out their own unique space between two worlds, they are moving past the tired cliches of the past. From the vibrant, authentic designs of MexiKitsch to the culinary expertise of Adriana Cavita, Chili Maven salsas, Sweet Nibble’s pan dulce, small and large importers of foods and ingredients we grew up with to long queues of the authentic food stalls at every market; this generation is proving that Mexican identity in the UK is about more than just survival; it is about flourishing with style and substance.
The momentum is undeniable. The community is now demanding a seat at the table. The recent petition to add ‘Latin American’ to the background section of official forms marks a turning point. For too long, the UK’s Mexican diaspora has been hidden under the ‘Other’ category (the Office for National Statistics (ONS) currently classifies Mexicans under ‘Any Other White’ or ‘Any Other Ethnic Group’), a bit of an exotic curiosity; now they are fighting for the visibility they have earned. Aside from Taco Tuesday and Margarita nights, UK isn’t just tasting Mexico; it is finally seeing the people behind the culture.
Distance does not erase who we are; it simply gives us a longer perspective on the beauty of our roots. Whether in the U.S. or the UK, the second generation is the bridge. By embracing the spirit of the Battle of Puebla, the spirit of the underdog who refuses to be erased, the diaspora ensures that Mexican heritage doesn’t just survive; it thrives.
The festival Mexico Vivo Fest allows us to come together and celebrate our Mexican Community in London, whilst giving us a voice and a space to share our Mexican pride.
We are the guardians of a history that refuses to be forgotten, no matter how far we travel from the belly button of the world.
Join us this 3–4 May at Hackney Bridge and celebrate 5 de Mayo with the vibrant spirit of Mexico right here in London. Enjoy live music, authentic food, colourful traditions, and a warm community atmosphere—two unforgettable days full of sabor, culture, and fiesta. Don’t miss it!
