Whether you are headed to the big Cinco de Mayo celebration in Downtown Phoenix this weekend or at some other location, we thought it would be helpful for you to know the "real history" behind Cinco de Mayo. 

To enlighten you, we are passing on a piece written by George Vallejos, Principal at Maya High School.  George can be reached at george.vallejos@leonagroup.com .

So here's what George had to say about Cinco de Mayo:

In the United States and especially in the Southwest, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated as the independence of Mexico. Although to an extent this is true, one must understand more about this “independence” to truly comprehend why it is such a celebrated holiday in the United States.A common misconception in the United States is that Cinco de Mayo is Mexico's Independence Day.  Mexico’s Independence Day is actually September 16, 1810 (declared) which is the most important national patriotic holiday in Mexico. Mexico gained their independence from Spain; similar to America gaining independence from England. So what does Mexico’s independence from Spain have to do the United States? Simply put, nothing.Cinco de Mayo's history has its roots in the French Occupation of Mexico. The French occupation took shape in the aftermath of the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848. Mexico borrowed monies from the French, English and Spanish to finance their war against the United States in which Mexico was defeated. The war ended with the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo (1848); where Mexico lost/sold the modern states of California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Southern Colorado and Southern Utah. As a result of this war, Mexico entered a period of national crisis during the 1850's. Years of not only fighting with the Americans as well as a Civil War left Mexico devastated and bankrupt. On July 17, 1861, President Benito Juarez issued a moratorium in which all foreign debt payments would be suspended for a brief period of two years, with the promise made that after this period, these payments would resume. The English, Spanish and French refused to allow President Juarez to do this and instead decided to invade Mexico and get payments by whatever means necessary. The Spanish and English eventually withdrew, but the French refused to leave. Their intention was to create an Empire in Mexico under Napoleon III. Some have argued the true French occupation was a response to growing American power and to the Monroe Doctrine (America for the Americans). Napoleon III believed if the United States was allowed to prosper it would eventually become a power in and of itself. In 1862, the French Army began its advance. Under General Ignacio Zaragoza, 5,000 ill-equipped Mestizo and Zapotec Indians defeated the French Army in what came to be known as the "Batalla de Puebla" on May 5, 1862. Union forces were then rushed to the Texas/Mexican border under General Phil Sheridan, who made sure the Mexicans got all the weapons and ammunition needed to expel the French. American soldiers were discharged with their uniforms and rifles if they promised to join the Mexican Army in an effort to fight the French. The American Legion of Honor marched in the Victory Parade in Mexico City. This is why Cinco de Mayo is such a celebration here in the United States -- a party which celebrates freedom and liberty. Mexico and the United States had fought shoulder to shoulder to protect freedom ever since the 5th of May, 1862. In a way, Cinco de Mayo is Mexico’s “independence” from the French – not the Mexican national independence from Spain in 1810. When you are out celebrating Mexican “Independence,” you should keep in mind Cinco de Mayo is celebrated mostly in the United States, not in Mexico. I hope I have enlightened you on a popular misconception about what Cinco de Mayo really is…