Celebrations will be held all over the nation today in honor of Cinco de Mayo, which means May 5th in Spanish.
But why? How about a little History 101?
It was on this date in 1862 when the outnumbered Mexican army defeated the invading French forces of Napoleon the Third at the Battle of Puebla. The Mexican military victory evolved over the years to become what it is today, a celebration of the rich heritage of music, dance, food and culture.
As the population of Mexican-Americans has increased over the years, so has the popularity of Cinco de Mayo, especially for states near the Mexican border. There are an estimated 21 million Americans of Mexican descent living in the U.S.
