So you probably view this is a big day here in Cabo San Lucas, huh? It's Mexican Independence Day after-all right? Well the truth is that today really isn't that big of a deal. Cinco de Mayo is more of a misconception among foreigners as being a really big holiday here in Mexico.   Maybe it is an American thing since it is so common in the United States of America to celebrate things like St. Patrick's Day, Chinese New Year, and other holidays of ethnic origin.  For sure businesses will take advantage of this day to get more people out and celebrating an otherwise typical day in Mexico.

Cinco de Mayo also known as the day in celebration for the Battle of Puebla is mostly celebrated in the city of Puebla, Mexico. So what was Cinco de Mayo then? So it was May 5, 1862 when the Mexican army defeated the French army in an unlikely outcome. The French army had over 8000 men while the Mexican army only had 4000.Add to this the fact that the French army was a much better armed force and it was an unbelievable surprise to see the Mexican forces defeat France.

In the Battle of Puebla,   General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín led the Mexican march. Although the Mexican army was victorious over the French at Puebla, the victory only delayed the French advance on Mexico City. A year later, the French occupied Mexico. The French occupying forces situated Emperor Maximilian I on the throne of Mexico in 1864. The French sooner or later retreated by 1867. Maximilian was deposed by President Benito Juárez and executed, five years after the Battle of Puebla.

France had invaded Mexico as a result of Mexico, under the rule of Benito Juarez, stopping payments to France for its foreign debt to them. The significance of Cinco de Mayo is more than the Battle of Puebla itself but an interesting factoid is that this was the last time one of the Americas was invaded by an army from another continent.

So hopefully if you're here and maybe even checking out Cabo Real Estate or hanging out in your own private cabo villa down a Corona beer for CInco de Mayo but remember it wasn't Mexican's Independence. For all of you still waiting to get down here in Cabo see you here soon and maybe it will be on Mexico's real day of Independence - September 15th!  That is another story that will have to be written about when the time comes.