CINCO DE MAYO is a Mexican holiday which commemorates the defeat of French forces on May 5, 1862, in the Battle of Puebla during which General Ignacio Zaragoza led the vastly outnumbered Mexican army to victory over the forces of Emperor Napoleon III. This triumph became a symbol of Mexican unity and patriotism.

CINCO DE MAYO is sometimes confused with Mexican Independence Day (September 16), which commemorates the anniversary of the day in 1810 when revolutionary priest Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla issued a proclamation declaring Mexico independent from Spain.

¡Feliz Cinco de Mayo! [source: Encarta Academic Online]