.5th of may.

Mexicans are truly festive; any excuse gives way for a celebration! Some of the most important and exciting historical Mexican dates are the 16^th of September, Independence Day and the 5th of May, Cinco de Mayo. They are good occasions to show the pride of being Mexican, the love of the Motherland, and the certainty of being a free country thanks to the many men and women whose struggle made history. 4,000 Mexican soldiers smashed the French and traitor Mexican army of 8,000 at Puebla, Mexico, 100 miles east of Mexico City on the morning of May 5, 1862.

The quest for independence started on the 16^th of September 1810, following the will to become a free nation, no longer submitted to Spanish rule. The struggle went on for 10 years. Finally, in 1821, the first independent Mexican government was established.

No celebration can be complete without food. A few days before the big event, hundreds of stalls start aligning on the streets near the plazas of all the towns. Restaurants all over offer the most representative of Mexican cuisine: Mole Poblano. A thick spicy sauce that comes from blending more than 40 ingredients is spread on top of turkey or chicken and Mexican style red rice. Mole is so popular that it is served on nearly every important occasion.

Cinco de Mayo ends with the traditional shouts of ¡Viva Mexico! and people looking forward to the next National Holiday: El 16 de Septiembre Día de la Independencia de Mexico, ” where we’ll have the chance to celebrate once again”