Not the Mexican day of Independence, Cinco de Mayo (May 5) actually
celebrates the Mexican victory over the French army in the Battle of Puebla on
May 5, 1862. Although considered a minor holiday in Mexico, Cinco de Mayo
gained mainstream celebration in many cities across the United States in the 1980s.
One of the beneficiaries of this adopted holiday has been Grupo Modelo, the
makers of Corona beer, whose flagship brew is as popular during Cinco de Mayo
as Guinness is on St. Patrick’s Day.
