Celebrating imports from Mexico
Cinco de Mayo commemorates the 1862 Batalla de Puebla at which Mexican forces soundly defeated the French army, which had been dispatched by Napoleon III to secure an empire in the Western Hemisphere. While the French wouldn’t quit Mexico for another six years, Californians kicked off the first annual celebration of Cinco de Mayo the very next year, in 1863, according to this story from Discovery.
Mexico not only gave the US the holiday to celebrate, it very likely provided the guacamole and the beer at the party … and is the top source for US imports of avocados and beer year-round. Gracias!
