Shouldn’t you know what you are celebrating? Before you say you are celebrating Mexican independence, you’re wrong. You are celebrating one of the rare victories of the Mexican army. S(orry to be blunt, but it’s the truth.) In early 1862, French Emperor Napoleon decided to take advantage of the American Civil War to grab Mexico and its natural resources. The excuse was Mexico owed France money. French forces landed at Vera Cruz and then moved inland. The Mexican army retreated to the city of Puebla, which had already been fortified for a possible attack. When the French arrived, they attacked the entrenchments and were repelled three times. It was a shocking victory for the outnumbered Mexicans. They had defeated a modern European army. Unfortunately, one year later the French conquered Mexico, so the Battle of Puebla was moot. However, the citizens of Puebla celebrated it and it eventually caught on in the country. It became the second biggest secular holiday after Mexican Independence Day which is Sept. 16 in remembrance of independence from Spain in 1810. “The Fifth of May” is actually celebrated more in the United States where it is viewed as a Mexican St. Patrick’s Day.
Battle of Puebla
0 Comments