Viva Cinco de Mayo!

The victory of Benito Juarez (and General Ignacio Zaragoza Seguín) over the forces of France's Napoleon III under Charles de Lorencez at the Battle of Puebla on this day in 1862 set the stage for the modern Republic of Mexico; Cinco de Mayo is as much a celebration of the man and his vision of a sovereign Mexico as it is of this victory.

Although the French army persisted - in June 1863 they captured Mexico City and installed Maximilian I as Emperor of Mexico in April 1864 - by June 1867 he'd been executed, at which time Juarez was once again returned to power.

Within Mexico itself Cinco de Mayo is principally a regional holiday, celebrated mainly in the state of Puebla, where the famous battle took place; in California (and therefore the rest of the United States), however, the festivities are more widespread - akin to Chinese New Year, St. Patrick's Day, or Oktoberfest.

Viva Cinco de Mayo!
*