When it comes to Cinco de Mayo, Americans are scratching their heads as they raise their bottle of cerveza, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports.
A survey done by NationalToday.com shows that only 10% of Americans know why Cinco de Mayo is celebrated.
But despite that, 70% of Americans will celebrate Cinco de Mayo today, by eating Mexican food (59%), drinking margaritas (32%) and celebrating Mexican culture (32%).
39% of Americans think Cinco de Mayo is Mexican Independence Day, while 26% think its a 'celebration of Mexican-American culture.
Actually, it celebrates the victory of Texas native Gen. Ignacio Zaragosa's victory over the Imperial French in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.
The French invaded Mexico after new President Benito Juarez suspended debt payments to European creditors, including France.
Acutally, the Spanish and the English participated in the invasion, but French Emperor Napoleon III had his eyes on Mexico as a French colony, and his army alone marched toward Mexico City, where a heavy rain helped the Mexican army defeat the invaders.
It was only a short-lived victory, as France returned one year later and placed Austrian Duke Maximilian on the Mexican throne as Emperor Maximiliano. His reign lasted less than four years, before forces loyal to Juarez defeated the Emperor's forces at the Battle of Santiago del Queretaro, and Maximiliano was executed.
It was the last European attempt to establish colonies in the Americas.