Cinco de Mayo, (Spanish for "Fifth of May") is a national holiday in Mexico commemorating the Mexican Army's defeat of French forces on May 5, 1862, in the Batalla de Puebla (Battle of Puebla). During the battle, General Ignacio Zaragoza led the vastly outnumbered Mexican army to victory over the French forces of Emperor Napoleon III. The triumph of Mexican forces at the Battle of Puebla became a symbol of Mexican unity and patriotism. Today it is not only celebrated in Mexico but also regions across the United States with sizable communities of Mexican origin. Particularly well known is...