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Hola, and happy early Cinco de Mayo! Having worked in many kitchens, I’ve had the pleasure of cooking alongside a number of Hispanics, especially Mexicans, so this contemporarily Amerianized holiday holds a special place in my heart.
I love the food, cerveza, music and festivity this holiday promotes, and although it can be misidentified as the day of Mexican independence, which was actually on Sept. 16, 1810, Cinco de Mayo is really a celebration of an archetypal David fending off Goliath that occurred decades later.
The short of it is that France, England and Spain loaned money to Mexico and wanted to collect. President Benito Juarez asked for more time, but Mexico’s investors were impatient and decided to intervene with naval blockades. Realizing that France desired a full invasion, Britain and Spain pulled out, leaving French forces to march toward Mexico City alone.