Cinco de Mayo (Spanish for the 5th of May) marks the 1862 victory of the Mexican army over French troops at the Battle of Puebla. It has become a popular cultural holiday in the Southwest, even surpassing its importance in Mexico. The first thing one needs to learn about Cinco de Mayo is that it is not a celebration of Mexican independence. Mexican Independence Day (September 16) commemorates the start of the Mexican revolt against Spain in 1810.
