Thursday is Cinco de Mayo. Salt-rimmed margaritas and a plate of tacos may rule the day, but what's the history behind the party?
Cinco de Mayo commemorates May 5, 1862, when the outnumbered Mexican army fought back and defeated the mighty French army in a David-and-Goliath-type battle.
Napoleon had attempted to invade Mexico to collect money owned to France.
The Battle of Puebla lasted two hours. Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza led a 4,000-man army wielding machetes and ingenuity to defeat Napoleon's 8,000 soldiers.
Today, Cinco de Mayo is a holiday that stokes national pride among Mexicans and Mexican-Americans.
The biggest celebrations are set to take place in the city of Puebla in the state of Puebla, about 80 miles south of Mexico City.
Parades, street fairs, music and food events laced with tequila and cerveza take over Mexico's fifth largest city, also known as the City of Angels.
However, many people mistakenly think that Cinco del Mayo holiday is Mexico's Independence Day, much like our July 4.
Mexico celebrates its independence day on Sept. 16 when the country honors Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a Catholic priest whose tolling of his church bell on that date in 1810 marked the beginning of the Mexican War for Independence from Spain.
Visit Mexico Today!!
Ron
www.thewaytogotravel.com
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