Cinco De Mayo

Cinco De Mayo celebrates Mexico’s victory over the Second French Empire at the Battle of Puebia in 1862, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza. He died months after the battle from an illness, and a larger French force defeated the Mexican army at the Second Battle of Puebla and occupied Mexico City. However the United States helped the Mexican liberals, and in January 1886 the French withdrew their troops from Mexico City. It is more popular in the United States than in Mexico, being associated with the celebration of the Mexican-American culture. Celebrations begin in California and been celebrated annually since 1863. In Mexico the commemoration of the battle is mostly ceremonial like military parades or battle re-enactments, especially in Puebia.