Cinco de Mayo
Commemorating this day in 1862, when a fledgling Mexican army defeated much larger and better equipped French forces. The French, looking to set up a French empire in Mexico, had invaded with 8,000 troops. On May 5, 1862, the much smaller Mexican army of 4,000 troops defeated the French near Puebla providing a large morale boost for the Mexican population. However a year later the French, now with 30,000 troops, were able to defeat the Mexican army and installed Emperor Maximilian I as ruler of Mexico. This victory too was short lived. After the American Civil War ended, the U.S. was able to provide support to Mexico and help expel the French.
In the U.S. Cinco de Mayo has become a time to celebrate Mexican-American culture.