HAPPY CINCO DE MAYO

For those of you that celebrate May 5th, which is Cinco de Mayo, I hope you all have a wonderful time today eating lots of great Mexican food, listening to wonderful mariachi bands, and drinking some great tequila (responsibly of course)! For those of you that really don't know much about the Mexican Holiday, then let me tell you a little of the history behind it.

Many people think this day is to celebrate Mexico's Independence, but it is not. That is celebrated on May 16th and not to be confused with Cinco de Mayo, or the 5th of May. The Battle of Puebla occurred on May 5, 1862, when an army of more than 6,000 French soldiers descended on the town of Puebla in southern Mexico. A smaller Mexican militia force led by General Ignacio Zaragoza, consisting largely of peasants, routed the occupying French troops to earn a single, decisive victory.

In modern Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is not a National holiday. It is celebrated only in certain regions, namely in the state of Puebla. Cinco de Mayo is celebrated widely in the United States. It has become an annual display of Mexican Culture., much like St. Patrick's Day for the Irish or Octoberfest for the Germans. Typical festivities on May 5th in the United States include dancing, eating, and gathering with family.

I personally love Mexican food and look forward to this holiday every year because a favorite local Mexican restaurant in our town has live Mariachi Bands playing and has really good specials on Margarita's (although I have to take it easy on those). I hope everyone has a great Cinco de Mayo in their hometown!