There's no shortage of festivities across America on Cinco de Mayo, but do you know what we're celebrating?

It has become a bigger party in the United States than in Mexico, where it's mostly only celebrated in the state of Puebla.

At the Battle of Puebla, the Mexican army of 4,000 troops stood up to Napoleon III's forces numbering 8,000 soldiers on the fifth of May in 1862. The first defeat of the French army in almost 50 years.

This was a great morale boost to the Mexican people and bolstered the resistance movement. It also became a symbolic victory for the Mexican government and helped establish a much-needed sense of national unity and patriotism.

In the United States, the holiday has become a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage. So raise a bottle of Negra Modelo and have a safe Cinco de Mayo.

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