Cinco de Mayo: the Myth, the Mystery, the Truth

Maybe Cinco de Mayo isn't that mysterious, however many people believe that it is a celebration of Mexico's independence. This, my friends, simply is not true. In fact the holiday is celebrated more widely here in America than it is in Mexico. So the myth? That it's a national holiday in Mexico when really it's just a highly commercialized day in the U.S. It gives thousands of American's a reason to drink on a week day and eat more mexican food than one should ever be allowed. I personally love this celebration. So the mystery? What is Cinco de Mayo if not a celebration of Mexican independence? Here comes the truth. The truth is that Cinco de Mayo originated from a battle that took place in the state of Puebla, Mexico between the French and Mexican armies in 1862. The French army had dispatch 6,000 soldiers who were to launch an attack on the city of Puebla. Led by Texas-born General Ignacio Zaragoza, the vastly outnumbered and poorly supplied Mexicans fortified the town and prepared for the French assault. The battle lasted from dawn until early evening until the French retreated having lost some 500 soldiers to Mexico's 100. The victory was more of a moral one and helped to tighten Mexican resistance. Needless to say Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in Puebla every year but mostly it is observed as a day to recognize Hispanic heritage among Mexican-Americans.
There you have it, the myth, the mystery the truth. As Paul Harvey would say "..and now you know the rest of the story."