So yesterday was Cinco de Mayo here in Mexico. Many people confuse it with Mexican Independence day, but that falls on September 15. No, Cinco de Mayo is the battle of Puebla against the French Army. In 1862, a Mexican army of about 4000 defeated an army of French and traitor Mexican army of about 8000. As a result of this defeat the Emperor of France Nepoleon III, who hated the United States by the way, was not able to keep supplying the confederate armies in the US during the Civil War allowing the north to build up a very large army and win the war against the south, so the battle of Puebla had a huge effect not only on Mexico but the US as well.
Here in Mexico, as well as the United States, celebrations are all around and some reinactments of the battle can be found in many places of the country. This year, there was a large “puente” which literally means “bridge” which happens when a national holiday occurs a day or two before the weekend, so it is like having an extended weekend vacation. This year the puente started on Thursday May 1st, which is labor day here and today Tuesday, everyone is back to work.
I’ll have some more Spanish learning stuff tomarrow, I just wanted to do something a bit different today. Enjoy!
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