For many, the celebration of Cinco de Mayo can and is seen as a celebration of "Mexican Culture" and heritage. However, many mistake the day as the day of Mexico's independence from Spain.

The real Mexican Independence is, in fact, in September. That is not to say that the day is unimportant in Mexican history, and is, in fact, a celebration of an army that was underestimated by the foreign military force of the French Army. Here is the history behind the celebration that is Cinco de Mayo.

The origin of Cinco de Mayo can be traced back to the French Occupation of Mexico, which took place after the Mexican-American war of 1846-1848 and the 1858–1861 Reform War. The wars left the Mexican Treasury on the verge of bankruptcy.

On July 17, 1861, Mexican President, Benito Juarez, mandated all foreign debt payments to be stopped for two years. In response, Spain, Britain, and France sent naval forces to Veracruz to demand reimbursement. Britain and Spain negotiated with Mexico, but France, ruled by Napoleon III at the time, decided to use the opportunity to start an empire in Mexico that would favor French interests.

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In late 1861, an armed French fleet invaded Veracruz, causing President Juárez and his government to retreat. The French army met heavy resistance from the Mexicans near the state of Puebla, at the Mexican forts of Loreto and Guadalupe. The 6,000 French troops attacked ".the smaller and much less equipped Mexican army of 2,000.

Despite this, the Mexicans managed to defeat the French army, which was at the time considered the best army in the world. On May 9, 1862, President Juárez declared the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla to be a national holiday known as "Battle of Puebla Day" or "Battle of Cinco de Mayo."

The victory at the Battle of Prueba represented a morale boost to the Mexican army and the Mexican people at large and was important for a couple of reasons. First, although considerably outnumbered, the Mexicans defeated a much-better-equipped French army. Second, since the Battle of Puebla, no countries in the Americas have been invaded by any other European army.

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Allegedly, the celebration of the holiday started in California the 1860s in response to the resistance to French rule in Mexico, as far north as the mining town of Columbia. However, The holiday crossed over from California into the rest of the United States in the 1950s and 1960s and gained, even more, popularity until in 1980s when beer marketers, capitalized on the annual celebration and began to promote it. It eventually evolved into a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage across the Untied States.

In contrast, the celebration of the battle is not observed as a national holiday in Mexico. However, all public schools are closed nationwide in Mexico on May 5. The day is an official holiday in the State of Puebla where the Battle took place, and also a full holiday in the nearby State of Veracruz. So, next time Cinco de Mayo comes around, and there are margaritas to be had, take a moment to reflect on the holiday's origins.