Cinco De Mayo in Houston

Most people outside of Mexico do not what the signficance of Cinco de Mayo is outside of an excuse for a lot of drinking.  While Cinco de Mayo is more than just another excuse to party it does lead to a prosperous days for "watering  holes."  When bars and pubs do well inevitably DWI arrests increase.  I would be anxious if I was out celebrating Cinco de Mayo this year with the Harris County, Texas "No Refusal Weekends" in full force.

If you do plan on celebrating the Mexican holiday you should know some of the facts behind the celebrations.  It may help you impressive someone tonight.  The holiday, which is celebrated more abroad than actually in Mexico, commemorates the Battle of Puebla which took place on May 5, 1862.

The underdog victory for Mexico pushed French forces out of the state of Puebla against seemingly insurmountable odds. Next year the 150th anniversary of the battle will be celebrated throughout the country.

Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day. That holiday, which is more widely honored in Mexico, is actually celebrated on September 16.  So how did the day become so popular in the U.S.? Of course, clever marketing by the alcohol companies and Mexican restaurants have had a lot to do with bolstering the holiday, using it as an excuse to have an extra drink when normally the public would be doing something else.

Please be careful on the streets tonight!