Cinco de Mayo is an annual celebration on the anniversary of Mecico’s victory over the French Empire During the Franco-Mexican War. On May 5, 1862 2,000 Mexican soldiers defeated 6,000 French Soldiers during a battle in Puebla de Los Angeles, a small town in East-Centeral Mexico.  A Day later, Mexican President Benito Juarez declared May 5 a national holiday.   According to USA Today, the holiday commemorates the start of France leaving Mexico during a time when Mexico was “economically vulnerable.”

There are a few important reasons why US cities celebrate Cinco de Mayo, including the large number of cities with significant Hispanic populations and because we share a border with Mexico.  It began to be celebrated in the US as a way os sharing solidary with Mexico against the French.

How old  were you when you found out the signigiance of Cinco De Mayo?