What is the true meaning of ‘Cinco De Mayo’? Published May 4, 2012 By Tech. Sgt. Monica Warren 49th Operations Support Squadron at White Sands Radar Facility WHITE SANDS RADAR FACILITY, N.M. -- On May 5, all around the world, many cities in the United States celebrate Cinco De Mayo. But why? Isn't it Mexico's Independence Day? Oddly enough, Cinco de Mayo is greatly believed to be more celebrated in the United States than in Mexico. Although this day marked a crucial day in Mexican history, it is not Mexico's Independence Day. That day is celebrated on September 16 and happened 50 years before the events of Mexico's day of independence. So, here is a quick lesson about Cinco de Mayo and why it is both important to Mexico and the United States. In 1861, Mexico found itself mired in the aftermath of the Mexican-American War. The country was in absolute financial ruin and lacked the ability to repay the mounting debt incurred to the European powers France, Britain and Spain. All three countries demanded reimbursement. The Mexican government, under President Benito Juarez, attempted at negotiations, but only Britain and Spain agreed to terms. France, however, saw an opportunity to not only collect its debt, but also a chance to gain a foothold in Latin America, on the southern border of the United States. Meanwhile, further north, in the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave, the U.S. Civil War also erupted in 1861. Both the North and the South attempted to hedge the War's outcome by allying themselves with the same European powers breathing down Mexico's neck. The Southern U.S. states were the principal provider of cotton to the whole of Europe, and the North was wary of European influence in the War. A French Empire in Mexico would have been devastating to the North, and may have changed the outcome of the War. Back South, the French Army, under Napoleon III landed on the coast of Vera Cruz, where they had easy access to Mexico City and the roads leading to El Norte. On May 5,1862, the French Army, 8,000 strong, attacked Puebla. The engagement should have been trouble-free. The Mexican Army they faced, led by General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguin, numbered only about 4,000 men who were poorly equipped, trained, and fed. Despite the fact that the Mexican army was dangerously outnumbered, they fought with courage and distinction. The battle that day ended with the loss of approximately 500 French soldiers to only 100 for the Mexican side. Mexican-American artist, poet, and writer, Jose Antonio Burciaga, stated, "The victory gave Mexico an electric current of patriotism and inspiration. It gave Mexico a soul of her own and national unity." So why do we celebrate Cinco de Mayo in the Estados Unidos? We celebrate it because it is a reflection of who we are. We are people from different places, with different backgrounds, different languages, and even different religions -- yet we are all Americans. Cinco de Mayo started because a ragtag Army with little to no training faced a European power, bent on imposing their will -- sound familiar? Cinco de Mayo goes on today, and even grows in popularity, because it celebrates the cultural heritage of more than 31.7 million Hispanic Americans of Mexican origin. That, in my opinion, makes it an American tradition. Mr. Burciaga said, "the victory at Puebla not only protected the integrity of Mexico but also that of the United States -- 'an involuntary service...of inestimable value.'" So, on this Cinco de Mayo, go ahead, order a great big Margarita, sing Mariachi, or try the Mexican hat-dance, and celebrate.