During the early 1860's, the French occupied Mexico in response to the Mexican government's failure to make payments to European creditors. The initial occupation was successful, but the Mexican army led by General Zaragosa defeated a significant French force at the Battle of Puebla (1862) on the 5th of May.

The holiday commemorates this victory. In spite of this resounding success against the French, the Mexicans could not prevent the French from taking over the country. The Emperor Maximilian II ruled over the nation until he was executed by the new Mexican populist, Benito Juarez, a contemporary of Abraham Lincoln. By 1866, the French had left Mexico.

Cinco de Mayo is not a federal holiday and is primarily celebrated in the province of Puebla. It is actually, by many Mexican accounts, more celebrated in the US than Mexico as a "drinking holiday". I will be drinking too!

FELIZ CINCO DE MAYO!
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinco_de_mayo

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