( CNN ) -- If you did n't already know , Cinco de Mayo is a bigger deal in the United States than in Mexico . Here , this unofficial holiday is almost as popular as , oh , St. Patrick 's Day -- which means it 's unfortunately become a drinking holiday . So much so that it 's been nicknamed , Cinco de Drinko and even Gringo de Mayo . Eek . Actually today commemorates Mexico 's victory against the French during the Battle of Puebla in 1862 , and according to research by UCLA professor David Hayes-Bautista , it is n't a Mexican holiday at all but rather an American one created by Latinos in California during the Civil War . In a perfect world , folks would use today as an opportunity to learn more about Mexican history and culture , but the sea of margarita and nacho specials might be too distracting for some . So , in the spirit of not completely raining on everyone 's parade , we 've compiled a list of Cinco de Mayo faux pas to avoid so as not to offend others and/or embarrass yourself today . 1 . 'Happy Cinco de Mayo ! ' ... said no Mexican ever . Today is not Mexico 's independence day ( which is September 16 ) so you should refrain from treating it as such . You will rarely see a Mexican in the U.S. or in Mexico -- outside of where the battle actually happened -- acknowledge , let alone celebrate , the holiday . So simmer down . 2 . Resist the urge to wear sombreros and fake mustaches because , well , stereotypes . While it may seem like all fun and games , these costumes essentially reduce cultural and traditional costumes to a caricature . Take it from the Penn State sorority sisters who learned the hard way after donning ponchos during one of their `` Mexican-themed '' parties . ( Not to mention the offensive signs they made to accompany their costumes . ) 3 . Enjoy traditional Mexican libations , but do n't use Cinco de Mayo as an excuse to get brutally inebriated . There 's a thin line between enjoying a drink special with friends and running amok after taking 13 shots of tequila . Plus , blacking out drunk is sort of disrespectful given Cinco de Mayo is in remembrance of a battle , meaning lives were lost . In other words , keep it classy , folks . 4 . Avoid using your high school level Spanish with native Spanish speakers today . Any attempts to awkwardly `` connect '' will likely come off as cheesy and empty . And , please do n't ask anyone to `` speak Spanish '' for your amusement because that 's just disrespectful . Plus , not all Latinos speak Spanish so you may be striking another nerve . 5 . Do n't plan a trip to Mexico to celebrate a 'real ' Cinco de Mayo . Outside of the state of Puebla in Mexico , the holiday is n't really celebrated at all . Even the celebrations in Puebla are much more tempered and family oriented . If you 're genuinely interested in Mexico , head to San Diego , San Antonio or even Mexico City on September 16 and indulge in an authentic experience in all things Mexican . 10 things you probably do n't know about Mexico City . Are you celebrating Cinco de Mayo today ? Tell us how in the comments section below .
Cinco de Mayo commemorates the United States 's victory against the Mexican during the Battle of Puebla . Many confuse the celebration with French independence day which is September 16 . Drinking and partying is a popular way to mark Cinco de Mayo in the United States . The holiday is n't widely celebrated in Mexico ; a scholar claims it was created in the United States .