Tomorrow is...

[TFOGGER]

I don't get why they even fly the flag... They beat the French... Wow, what an accomplishment. I'm sure my kids could do that right now.

Not only a minor victory, but a temporary one...

The French invasion

Late in 1861, a well-armed French fleet stormed Veracruz, landing a large French force and driving President Juárez and his government into retreat.[14] Moving on from Veracruz towards Mexico City, the French army encountered heavy resistance from the Mexicans near Puebla, at the Mexican forts of Loreto and Guadalupe.[15] The 8,000-strong French army attacked the much poorer equipped Mexican army of 4,000. Yet the Mexicans managed to decisively crush the French army, the best army at the time, and one that had not been defeated for almost 50 years.[16]
The Mexican victory

The victory represented a significant morale boost to the Mexican army and the Mexican people at large. The History Channel puts it this way:
"Although not a major strategic victory in the overall war against the French, Zaragoza's success at Puebla represented a great moral victory for the Mexican government."[17] And TIME puts it this way:
"The Puebla victory came to symbolize unity and pride for what seemed like a Mexican David defeating a French Goliath."[18] "It was a glorious moment for Mexico." It helped establish a much-needed sense of national unity and patriotism.[15]
Events after the Battle

The Mexican victory, however, was short-lived. Thirty thousand troops and a full year later, the French were able to depose the Mexican army, capture Mexico City, and establish Emperor Maximilian I as ruler of Mexico.

[Elhuero]

yeah I've actually had chicanos tell me that cinco de mayo is mexican independence day.

I laughed at them.

then told them in spanish that their ignorance amazed me.

[funkfool]

yeah I've actually had chicanos tell me that cinco de mayo is mexican independence day.

I laughed at them.

then told them in spanish that their ignorance amazed me.

Su ignorancia me sorprende?
Cinco history here

Wonder if they know they are being used as tools - by Corporate Advertisers?
Does it bother them?

I fly the flag everyday!

[Ranger]

Cinco is such a sore spot for me. I'm Scottish by heritage and I don't fly that flag. I'm southern by birth and upbringing (good old southern boy) and I don't fly the stars and bars (outside of my recording studio that is). I fly the American flag every single day because, well, I'M A FRICKIN AMERICAN IN AMERICA. Geez. I don't have a problem with rednecks showing their stars and bars, at least it was American history, but seeing that Mexican flag waved around makes me want to expel the lot of them and watch how damn fast they come swimming back over the Rio. Love it or leave it - be proud of your heritage I say, but don't piss on America by honoring a foreign flag and having a U.S. holiday dedicated to that.

On the other hand, I also love America because we CAN do this silly crap, even if I personally don't like it.

The first weekend in May means one thing - and one thing only - Derby weekend! Now, if we can turn the 5th into a special day where idiots waving the Mexican flag have to race each other on a muddy track then I might have a bit more interest in it! .