Historical Facts about Cinco De Mayo.

[MEGASTAR]

Boiled down to it's essence, May 5, 1862, the French, fighting uphill in the mud, out of artillery support having started their charge later in the day, were defeated by a twin garrisoned force of Mexicans including Cavalry.

In the Battle of the Puebla, in the Mexican province of Puebla (must've run out of names), the French forces, were marching on Mexico City to take over Mexico to satisfy war debts owed to the country of France, accrued by the previous ruler of Mexico, Spanish puppet Ignacio Comonfort. The first "indigenous" leader of Mexico, Benito Juarez had declared such war debts, owed to France, Spain and England suspended. Despite the fact that Mexico was only paying the INTEREST on those debts anyway.

They landed in Veracruz and the Spanish and Brits left, having received new, and subsequently worthless IOUs from Juarez's government.

The French weren't falling for it again. Defeated at the First Battle of the Puebla, giving origin to "Cinco De Mayo", they retreated back to Veracruz, were reinforced and resupplied and defeated the Mexicans at the Second Battle of the Puebla, marched on Mexico City and went on to occupy Mexico for several years, installing a Hapsburg Austrian liberal named Maximillian who believed in many of the land reforms of the "native" Juarez. He was eventually deposed and executed. 

Cinco De Mayo as a holiday outside of the province of Puebla was invented, like Kwanzaa, by Leftists making up History, in, OF COURSE, California.

It is, essentially, Mexico's prideful "victory" as a deadbeat nation which never pays it's debts. 

[krunchnik]

Wow-who knew-

[Darrell]

17 hours ago, MEGASTAR said:

Cinco De Mayo as a holiday outside of the province of Puebla was invented, like Kwanzaa, by Leftists making up History, in, OF COURSE, California.

Aren't all holidays invented? 

Cinco De Mayo has morphed over the years, as you know. It's become a festival that celebrates Hispanic culture, and just about nobody knows about the battle you mentioned, nor do they care. I've been to some pretty great Cinco de Mayo celebrations and enjoyed some pretty great Mexican food and music. Live and let live.

[Darrell]

[Charlie16ga]

Interesting, thank you for sharing.  I never cared, like most everyone, just saw it as another excuse to drink.