Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo, the Spanish for "5th of May" is primarily a regional and not an obligatory federal holiday in Mexico. The holiday commemorates an initial victory of Mexican forces led by General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín over French forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. The date is observed in the United States and other locations around the world as a celebration of Mexican heritage and pride.

A common misconception in the United States is that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico's Independence Day; Mexico's Independence Day is actually September 16, which is the most important national patriotic holiday in Mexico.

The origin of the observance of Cinco de Mayo in the United States, focus on that day first started in California in the 1860s in response to the resistance to French rule in Mexico. In Mexico the holiday of Cinco de Mayo is primarily a regional holiday, celebrated in the state of Puebla, Mexico. For the most part the celebrations combine food, music and dancing.

In the United States, Cinco de Mayo has taken on a significance beyond that in Mexico. The date is perhaps best recognized in the United States as a date to celebrate the culture and experiences of Americans of Mexican ancestry, much as St. Patrick's Day, Oktoberfest, and the Chinese New Year are used to celebrate those of Irish, German, and Chinese ancestry, respectively.


Source: wikipedia