What does Cinco de Mayo celebrate?

Many believe that Cinco de Mayo celebrates Mexico's independence; however, that is not the case. Cinco de Mayo celebrates a relatively small victory in which the Mexican army defeated the French. In fact, many Mexican states outside of Puebla do not even celebrate the holiday.

Cinco de Mayo is celebrated on the fifth of May each year. The holiday is especially popular in the United States, where it is often paired with eating Mexican style food and drinking margaritas. Restaurants and bars typically have special Cinco de Mayo themed nights, complete with drink specials. No one can really explain why the holiday is so popular in the United States.