Cinco de Mayo

I spent Saturday hanging with some of my friends in manchester.  One of them was darker complected, but I knew he'd lived here most of his life.  I remembered him saying his parents were out celebrating Cinco de Mayo.  It took me a few moments until I realized that his family must have been of Mexican descent.

I remembered from Spanish class that Cinco de Mayo was a popular holiday and stood for "fifth of May."  The date is remembered as May fifth of 1862 when Mexico was victorious during the Battle of Puebla.  The French lost the Franco-Mexican War to Mexicans with little skill and lack of weapons.  They fought with all they had and won the battle.
Today the holiday isn't nearly as popular in Mexico as it was a long time ago.  Over time it has turned more into an American event.  Some restaurants market the day to bring in customers.  It promotes their business with their supposably authentic Mexican food.
The day is also often confused with Mexico's Independence day.  That was marked on September sixteenth of 1810.  In Mexico there are military parades, but it is still not a federal holiday.  Mariachi music, however, is very popular.  Where ever you are on the next Cinco de Mayo means its time to party.