Cinco Things You Should Know About Cinco de Mayo

Before you flip your Corona upside down to send your lime to the bottom, before you touch your tongue to the salt on the rim of your margarita glass, you should know a few things about the holiday you are “celebrating.” A little knowledge will make those tacos and enchiladas taste even better.

Cinco de Mayo is NOT Independence Day for Mexico. This day is celebrated on September 16th, commemorating the union of different rebel groups against Spain in 1810. Actual Mexican independence was achieved in 1821.
Cinco de Mayo commemorates the victory by a humble Mexican army against a stronger, better equipped French army on May 5th, 1862, called La Batalla de Pueblo.
Similar to St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland, Cinco de Mayo is not extensively celebrated in Mexico. It is more of a Mexican-American holiday. Why is it we feel the need to turn other countrys’ significant events and people into an excuse to imbibe?
In Mexico on May 5th, the schools are closed, but business and banks have the choice to stay open.
The holiday is celebrated most emphatically in the city of Pueblo where the battle took place. Mexican people reenact the battle by dressing in the garb of the French and Mexcian soldiers.

So, now you know the history, and you can celebrate intelligently. With that in mind, here are some fun facts:

Corona is the most popular beer in Mexico, followed by Tecate and DosEquis.
Many claim to have invented the Margarita, but no one’s story can be proven.
The world’s first frozen margarita machine was invented in 1971 by Dallas restaurateur Mariano Martinez.
Americans consume 81 million avocados on Cinco de Mayo.
Tacos originated in the silver mines of Mexico in the 18th century. Taco was the word to describe the paper used to wrap around explosives which were then stuck into the holes in the rock. Similarly now, they hold an explosion of flavor and we stick them into the holes in our head.