1.  Cinco de Mayo means 5th of May in Spanish.

2.  Cinco de Mayo is the anniversary of a battle that took place between the Mexicans and the French in 1862.

3.  Mexico had many rich natural resources and gold, which made them vulnerable to other nations that wanted to take advantage of these riches

4. The battle is known as the Battle of Puebla.  This victory  also marks a turning point in Mexican national pride. A small, poorly armed group of about 4,500 men were able to stop the French invasion of a well-equipped French army that had about 6,500 or even 8,000 soldiers. Their success helped Mexican people feel very happy and helped create a feeling of national unity.

5. While Cinco de Mayo is a national holiday in Mexico, it is mainly observed in the state capital of Puebla.  However, in the United States, it is becoming a popular holiday to celebrate Mexican culture.

6. The largest Cinco de Mayo event in the world is held in Los Angeles, California, where more than 600,000 people celebrate with music and food. The whole event is called Festival de Fiesta Broadway.

7. Two other big festival are held far from Mexico, in Denver, Colorado, and St Paul’s, Minnesota, but they draw hundreds of thousands of participants.

8. The Cinco de Mayo festival in Chandler, Arizona, is known for its Chihuahuas! There are Chihuahua parade, races and pageants. At the end, a King and Queen of the Chihuahuas are crowned.

9.  Traditional Mexican foods such as tacos, burritos and enchiladas are served.

10.  The Cinco de Mayo celebrations that take place also highlight the traditional dances, dress and decorations of Mexico.

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Cinco de Mayo