What is the Significance of Cinco De Mayo?

Cinco de Mayo is one of those holidays, which millionsleading Mexico to send the French back to Europe in
of Americans enthusiastically celebrate every year,1867. It is this upset victory, which is celebrated each
although the vast majority of these people either knowMay 5th in Mexico - in Puebla and in Mexico City, there
very little to nothing about this Mexican holiday. What isare annual reenactments of the historic battle.
the significance of Cinco de Mayo and why is it thatGood to know, but given that many people in the US
this holiday has become more popular in the Unitedare not even aware of the historical background of
States than in its native country? If you would like tothe holiday, what is the significance of Cinco de Mayo
learn a little more about the holiday, you have come toto Americans? There are a few answers to this
the right place - read on for a brief introduction to thequestion. One is that as neighboring nations of
facts on this popular Mexican import.approximately the same age (Mexico declared its
As everyone knows, Cinco de Mayo's is Mexican inindependence in 1810, just a few decades after the
origin; but there is one popular misconception about thisUnited States), our two countries have essentially
holiday, which we should clear up before we go anygrown up together and we have strong historic and
further. Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico's Independencecultural ties with our neighbors to the south. As you
Day - that's September 16th, in case you wereprobably know, much of the American southwest was
wondering. So what does Cinco de Mayoonce part of Mexico and in Texas, California and other
commemorate if not the country's independence fromsouthwestern states, Cinco de Mayo has long been
Spain?celebrated.
This Regional Mexican Holiday actually celebrates theEver since the 1960s, when college students in
victory of the Mexican army over the French in theCalifornia began promoting the celebration of Cinco de
Battle of Puebla on May 5th, 1862. Outnumbered nearlyMayo as a salute to Latino culture and achievements,
two to one and facing one of the world's bestthe holiday has become ever more popular across the
professional armies at the time, the Mexican army ledrest of the country. There are now celebrations held in
by General Ignacio Zaragoza routed the Frenchcities in every part of the United States; and for many
against seemingly insurmountable odds. While it was anAmericans, Cinco de Mayo is a day for saluting both
early battle in a war, which would last for the next fiveour neighbors south of the border as well as
years, the victory was an inspirational one, whichcelebrating America's large and vibrant Latino
spurred the Mexican spirit of resistance, eventuallycommunity.