Why Cinco de Mayo is not a French holiday!
HERE IS A SCOOP… Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico’s Independence Day! Mexico actually declared its independence from mother Spain on 15 September, 1810.
So what happened on the morning of 5 May, 1862 in Mexico that is such cause for celebration? Well, that was the day 4,000 Mexican soldiers were victorious over Napoleon III’s army at Puebla which is a village about 100 miles east of Mexico City. Oui! I said the Napoleon’s... French army!
Emperor Napoleon III Maximillian I of Mexico Mexico's President Benito Juaréz
You see, the French had landed in Mexico five months earlier under pretense of collecting Mexican debts from the newly elected government of democratic President Benito Juaréz. But that was really a ploy of Emperor Napoleon III, who hated the United States, to gain a permanent foothold in Mexico. Napoleon had already sent a Hapsburg prince, Maximillian I, to rule over this new Franco/ Mexican Empire, an idea that both President Juaréz and his Mexican liberal party refused to recognize!
There is no question Mexicans had won a great victory on that May 5th and in doing so also kept Napoleon from supplying the Confederate rebels for another year which allowed the Union army to grow in strength. The Confederates loss at Gettysburg just 14 months after the battle of Puebla essentially ended the Civil War - Gracias Mexico!
Rancho Escargot's resident 'Cinco de Mayo' chica, Juanita
Why do Martine & I celebrate Cinco de Mayo at Rancho Escargot? Well, we love Mexico, margaritas, and our resident party chica, Juanita! Remember, although we love France...
We don’t like everything french!
Viva Cinco de Mayo! et à bientôt, Jack
Yet another thing I didn't know this morning! Thanks for the history note.
I'm so looking forward to your (say no to rum) Margaritas!
Who painted the portrait "Martine with Beer"???
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That was an interesting fact. I didn't know France had fought and lost a battle there. Mexico is very much in the news at the moment but not all for the good reasons. Keep up the good work. W
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Nice painting at the bottom of the post)))
I guess the understanding of beauty have transformed a little bit since those times, not for everyone though..... ))))
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A really interesting facts especially for such a person like me - i mean anybody interested in history...
Thanks for sharing the information!
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