In the United States,
most people celebrate Cinco de Mayo
with endless margaritas and guacamole.
But how many of us know exactly what we're celebrating?
Many people think Cinco de Mayo is to Mexico
what the Fourth of July is to the United States.
Cinco de Mayo.
May?
Cinco de Mayo, maybe?
Xochitl: Yeah, that's not right.
Mexican Independence Day is actually on September 16.
So what makes May 5 so margarita-worthy?
The answer traces back to when Benito Juárez
became president of Mexico.
The country was in financial ruin.
They had no money, honey.
France saw this as an opportunity to claim Mexican land.
The French stormed the eastern port city
of Veracruz in late 1861
and eventually forced the Mexicans to retreat.
The French then planned to conquer Mexico City
by way of a city called Puebla.
But Juárez wasn't having that.
He enlisted soldiers to try and stop the French
from moving farther inland.
Victory seemed impossible for Mexico.
They were outnumbered roughly three to one.
The French had better weapons.
Plus, most of the Mexicans weren't even members
of the official army.
But that didn't stop them from trying.
Led by General Ignacio Zaragoza,
they fortified Puebla on May 5, 1862, and fought back hard.
After the dust settled, fewer than 100 Mexicans were killed.
The French's toll was about five times greater.
Even though the battle of Puebla didn't win the war,
it raised national spirits at a moment in history
when Mexico really, really needed it.
Today, ahora, Cinco de Mayo
represents Mexican pride against all odds.
And it should be celebrated,
like with this special margarita
inspired by the spirit of El Día de la Batalla de Puebla.
It combines Mexican and French liquor,
representing the forces at the Battle of Puebla.
In a shaker with ice, you combine
Tequila Cazadores Blanco with St-Germain,
lime juice, and agave.
Shake it all up, and serve it over rocks.
OK. Mira, tan bueno. Mmm, yes.
Cinco de Mayo isn't as widely celebrated in Mexico
as it is in the United States,
but, baby, it's still a time for gathering
with friends and family.
Now that you know the real story of Cinco de Mayo,
make yourself an 1862 Margarita, and start celebrating.
OK, wow.
OK, we need to wrap this up 'cause I'm ready to go party.
I just had me some Cazadores, OK?