Cinco de Mayo, or the Fifth of May, is a Mexican holiday that is celebrated with food, drink and dancing in commemoration of the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Contrary to popular belief, Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico’s Independence Day (which is really September 16). It was actually a battle in which 4,500 Mexican soldiers defeated an army of 6,500 French led by Napolean III. The underdog Mexican army was able to stave off French occupation for an entire year thanks to this victory! A hard-won battle worth celebrating even today.
