Last week, a woman asked me what Cinco de Mayo stood for, and I told her accurately it meant the Fifth of May. This, however, did not pacify her. She wanted to know what the purpose was of celebrating on May 5. I didnıt know the answer, and she was bothered.

It turns out that Cinco de Mayo celebrates when 4000 Mexican patriots defeated the 8000-man French army in Puebla, Mexico on the morning of May 5, 1862. Napoleon III had a plan to take over Mexico during a time when the United States (stuck in its own Civil War) couldnıt do anything to stop the French. A Hapsburg prince named Maximilian was expected to rule the land after taking over. The French had reason to be cocky. Their army had not been defeated in 50 years, and they had as modern and stocked an arsenal as anyone.

The plan for the French was to land at Vera Cruz, march to Mexico City and seize control of the capital. The French assumed if they controlled the capital, the Mexicans would surrender (much like European countries did against the French).

But the French never made it to the capital, as Puebla is about 100 miles east of Mexico City. Under the command of Texas-born General Zaragosa, (with the cavalry under the command of Colonel Porfirio Diaz, later to be Mexico's president and dictator), the Mexicans awaited. General Zaragosa ordered Colonel Diaz to take his cavalry out to the French flanks. In response, the French sent their cavalry off to chase Diaz and his men, who proceeded to butcher them. The remaining French infantrymen charged the Mexican defenders through sloppy mud from a thunderstorm and through hundreds of head of stampeding cattle stirred up by Indians armed only with machetes.

When the battle was over, many French were killed or wounded, and their cavalry was being chased by Diaz' horsemen miles away. The Mexicans had won a great victory that kept Napoleon III from supplying the southern confederate rebels for another year, allowing the United States to build the greatest army the world had ever seen. This grand army smashed the Confederates at Gettysburg just 14 months after the ³Battalla de Puebla,² essentially ending the Civil War.

Union forces were then rushed to the Texas/Mexican border under General Phil Sheridan, who made sure that the Mexicans got all the weapons and ammunition they needed to expel the French. American soldiers were discharged with their uniforms and rifles if they promised to join the Mexican Army to fight the French, and the American Legion of Honor marched in the Victory Parade in Mexico City.

So now you know why May the Fifth is a big deal. Of course, itıs not like that anymore. Over the years, Cinco de Mayo has become another in the slew of warm weather holidays in which we can all drink and eat and drink and drink. And thatıs fine with me.

The woman was right though. I should have known a little bit about why the holiday is celebrated. I hadnıt really thought about Mexicoıs role during one of the darkest times in our countryıs history. I had never contemplated the concept of French-Mexicans. I hadnıt really thought about the holiday aside from the cookouts, fiestas, parades, and celebrations around the continent.

And thatıs what the holidays are really about. Getting together with family and friends to celebrate the fact that you have family and friends to get together with. It doesnıt matter if itıs Cinco de Mayo, Bastille Day, Christmas or a weekend day when everyone has nothing better to do than celebrate.

If anyone asks you what the big deal is about Cinco de Mayo, you can tell them the brief explanation. If they just ask for another Dos Equis, give it to them. If they just want to celebrate, let them. If someone asks what Cinco de Mayo means, tell them it stands for the Fifth of May. Because thatıs what it means.

Happy celebrating, everyone.

Chris Jungle prefers the lazy warm weather holidays over the frantic overspending cold weather ones.