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Cinco de Mayo commemorates the 1862 Battle of Puebla, during which outnumbered Mexican forces defeated the French Army, setting the stage for Mexico’s eventual triumph over France.

The stage was set when England, Spain and France sailed fleets to Mexico with hopes of forcing the nation to pay its foreign debts. The British and Spanish fleets returned home once a preliminary agreement was made to pay off the debt. France, however, remained in Mexico, rejected the agreement, and began a war. On May 5th, 6,500 French troops marched to the town of Puebla on the way to Mexico City. They expected little or no resistance, but found Puebla garrisoned and fortified by 4,500 Mexican soldiers who routed the French forces.

credit: Esparta

Cinco de Mayo is mostly celebrated in the Puebla region of Mexico and the southwestern states of the US, where it’s become a way for Latinos to celebrate their Mexican roots and share their heritage with their neighbors. Here’s a look at some of the best places to visit on Cinco de Mayo:

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