Some people think Cinco de Mayo is to celebrate Mexico’s Independence day. But that isn’t correct. Mexico’s Independence day is September 16th.

Cinco de Mayo is the date also known as the Anniversary of the Battle of Puebla, national holiday in Mexico in honor of the military victory in 1862 over the French forces of Napoleon III. On May 5, 1862, a poorly equipped Mexican Army defeated the French troops, about 1,000 French troops were killed. Although the fighting continued and the french were not driven out for another five years, the victory at Puebla became a symbol of Mexican resistance to foreign domination. The city, which was later renamed to Puebla de Zaragoza, and the battlefield itself is maintained as a park.

Now for the part I bet you didn’t know…

Cinco de Mayo is an important date in Ecuador also. In a small city in the province of Manabi named Chone marked the start of Ecuador’s “Liberal Revolution of 1895”. There was the Battle of the Yellows on May 1, 1895, that led to the Chone Liberal Proclamation which was conducted May 5, 1895.

So now you know…the rest of the story…don’t you feel enlighten 🙂