How to Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with the Entire Family

For s many of us Cinco de Mayo is an excuse to go out for tequila drinks and eat tacos without thinking of the history behind the celebration. This year, why not take the time to gather your family together to learn more about the holiday and how we can learn from it?

The holiday commemorates the victory of the Mexican army over the French Empire at the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862. The battle was fought in the city of Puebla, which is located about 100 miles southeast of Mexico City. The army, which was led by General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín, was outnumbered by the French army by a ratio of two to one. However, the Mexicans were able to defeat the French, thanks to the bravery and determination of their soldiers.

The victory at the Battle of Puebla was a HUGE morale boost for the Mexican people and it helped to inspire their continued resistance to French occupation. The French eventually withdrew from Mexico in 1867.

Interestingly, Cinco de Mayo isn’t really a major holiday in Mexico, but it IS celebrated in some parts of the country, especially in Puebla. In the United States, Cinco de Mayo has become a popular holiday, especially in areas with large Mexican-American populations.

While Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico’s Independence Day (which FYI is celebrated on September…